Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Jeff I hope with a couple days rest your back feels better.

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH

SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

Partly Cloudy 23°F (-5°C)

Humidity: 74 % Wind Speed: S 14 MPH Barometer: 30.31" Dewpoint: 16°F (-9°C) Wind Chill: 11°F (-12°C) Visibility: 10.00 mi. More Local Wx: 2 Day History:

[SilverSpike]

Good morning from the fresh powder snow covered Piedmont! It took me an extra 25 minutes driving into work today, only saw one accident on my stretch.

Before today the last time I drove through snow was in March of 2005 while on family vacation in Colorado, driving through the San Juan Mountains from Cortez to Telluride. Now that was a snow, the dang plow almost hit us coming around a bend, quite exciting. That was the best vacation ever; we rode the Grand Canyon Railroad too on that trip!

So Chloe, I'll have a tall cup a Joe please!

Finally got my February Model Railroader magazine in the mail yesterday, the original went missing in the mail over the holidays so I emailed Kalmbach customer support and they sent me another copy. It arrived in a nice envelope and it was wrapped in plastic, nicely snuggled for snail mail delivery.

Oh, and I got my Model Railroad Planning 2007 issue in too!

Worked the train room again last night laying about another 16' of track, and if you listen closely you can hear the sound of the spike drivers pounding the rails.....

Flip, I finally got to watch the train video, I saw the first hour with the CP footage. Spectacular rail fan sights and the scenery is just amazing. I did not know there was so much sulfur up in them there hills........err........mountains! Next up is the Tracks Ahead episode, looking forward to that too!

I see that Mike is on the list too, so after I watch the whole tape I will be forwarding it to you Inch! Sad news about that rail fan in Alabama, thoughts and prayers to his family!

RYAN: NE has to get by Colts first, and they have very good passing attack....the key will be the rush on Payton, he gets erratic if they get a good rush on him.

Yep! Both the AFC and NFC Championship games should be good ones! The Colts have a good shot at it especially with home field and all. And Dick, I done took that 3^rd grade test a few times and have to say it is a challenge, but I passed. The small New England states still get me mixed up a bit.

Nice pics there Philip! Looks like you got snow too! And yesterday's breakfast is looking real good right about now!

RT, thoughts and prayers for you and your dad, and sorry to hear about the trip to the ER.

Jeff, hope your back is getting better now!

Der John, nice pic of the beach and snow! Oh.....poor penguin! And it sounds like you are making some steady progress on the layout. When can we see the latest pics?

to the Diner fixerup! Have a cup a Joe on me on your next visit!

Paul, tell Mary Ann good luck with the doctors appointment. Not sure about page 34 but when I tried to get to page 35 I got a domain error then had to go back to the main forum page after a few minutes and was able to get back into the site.

Cheers,

Ryan

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

Grayfox: My back is a lot better now. Just a twinge now and again.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446      1/18/2007

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Wind Chill:  37°F
Humidity:  87%
Dew Point:  34°F
 
So Far Today
High:  37°F
Low:  35°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph N
 
High: 42 °F
Low: 38 °F

National weather service Doppler radar indicated areas of light rain and drizzle were falling over southeast Texas and southern Louisiana and the adjacent coastal waters. Precipitation this morning is moving to the northeast around 30 mph.  

Today  High: 42    Cloudy. Patchy drizzle in the morning...then a chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain 30 percent.  

Tonight  Low: 38    Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Lows in the upper 30s. Light and variable winds.

I'll have the biscuits and gravy today.

[ModelTrainLover]

Ryan: I don't know... Manning has been shaky durring the playoffs. Patriots will win, not by alot but they will win.

now them time for

Railfans VS Nonrailfans.

If any of you would like to add to this please go ahead.

Railfans 9 time out of 10 will get picked on by either fellow employees, or classmates. All because they like trains.

    This usually happens durring the 5th grade and steadly gets worse through middle school and high school. 

    Railfans sometimes tries to hide the fact that they like trains. Hopping to avoid attention, while others show it off like a Medal of Honor. Railfans are not the most popular students but they are not the most hated.

    The teasing can range from a simple disgrasful look in thier direction to name calling with names like: geek, trainboy, choochoo boy.

    Name calling of trains usually goes along with the name calling like: trains are gay, stupid, worthless, and even %$@#!!

    Scarcasim is common. Comments like, Why do you like trains? You going to be an engineer? How them trains doing?

    All of these can be stressfull, but there are options to lat it out.

1. reture the teasing, name calling and insults

2. talk to a teacher, guidance councilor, or a parent

3. ask them to stop

4. This should be you last option.. sock 'em in the mouth and beat the liven day lights out of 'em.

    On rare occasions there is a need for railfan knowedge. Like for an art porject. Durring that time the 'spotlight' is on the railfan. Nonrailfans ask questions like: m

How do you draw a rail?

What does an enginee look like?

Does this look like a train?

    Durring that time frame the teasing stops because the nonrailfans think that if by teasing the railfans they will not help them considering that nonrailfnas don't know anything about what railfans specalize in. Confiusing an't?

    As Middle school starts railfans face a whole new set of people and challenges. Like students that are neither mean or niced to the railfans about their hobby. It's like a silent respect because you know more about something they know little of, then there are the students that are nice about your choice of hobby, respecting it but think that it's just a strange hobby and leave it that way. A strange hobby, but there are those students who are every railfans worst nightmare... The students that seem like they are on a crusade against railfans and the hobby, going are tell rumors about something they know nothing of. Which in somecases is enough to send some railfans straight to option #4. Which would work and build you a reputation that if anyone makes fun of trains and you don't like. watch out!!.

Now this one that I personally like because I do have a friend who is a budding railfan, and live literally across the street from active tracks of the Genesee & Wyoming.

Now there are budding railfans that accept you for who you are and seem interested in the hobby. In rare cases like those it's ok to ask them to come by your house and check out all od the options that come with this great hobby. Like

Model railroading

Railfanning

Volinteering at either a local day care with your model trains, or at a railroad meseum

Thanks for reading![

Colby 

 

[SilverSpike]

Colby, yes, history is not on Manning's side, but you never know eh! Just like the Saints! History was made on Saturday and hopefully history will be made again this Sunday.

Now, as far as the teasing and stuff at school, it is so typical that some kids will pick on others because they have a target on their backs so to speak. I was into trains too when I was a teenager back in the 70's and went through similar prodding in junior high and high school. But you know, I know what I liked and I liked what I did. No one was going to change my mind either.

Just brush it off. Those people / kids who pick on others at school are just jealous that you / we have actually found something that brings us joy and makes us smile. You have a lot of character and pride plus the support of all us here in the forum.

When kids would pick on me I would just laugh a little and smile and say something like "what have you done to make the world a better place today?", then watch their reaction or walk away from the real negative people.

If someone is really a bully I would absolutly report any incident to the counselers or staff office personnel.

 

 

[Hoople]

Colby, for me it was a little different.

Started in 1st grade,

stopped in 4th.

Now there is two train people in my class, And I hope it stays that way.

I rarely ever get called a geek or train nerd.

Maybe that's because we have someone who is at the bottom.

Or the fact that I play football.

Either one.

[ModelTrainLover]

thanks guys. what I wrote all of it has happend to me. Not that I have beaten the daylights out of anyone... lol

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Colby: I went through the same kind of thing when I was in school. A couple of the worst guys started getting too rough and had to be taught a lesson. Since they were on the football team and practiced several times a week, I decided on my avenue of vengeance. I soaked their jock straps with massage oil. That stuff contains a lot of alcohol. After a few minutes working out on the feild in the hot sun, they were totally incapacitated. After that, I didn't have much of a problem with them.

Now, as for trains being worthless, what do you think would happen if all rail traffic within US borders stopped for a month? For one thing, your big chain stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Sam's, not to mention the big hardware supply store and home improvement centers would have to close. Why? Their stuff comes in by truck, doesn't it? The trucks are loaded at the supply points and warehouses. How are those warehouses supplied? You guessed it, the railroads. Without the railroads, commerce, industry and trade in the US would quickly come to a stop.

[SilverSpike]

Just got this one in the email a few minutes ago...... host off the presses....

 

Peyton Manning's House In The Sky

Peyton Manning, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven,
God was showing him around.

They came to a modest little house with a faded Colts flag in the
window.

"This house is yours for eternity, Peyton," said God. "This is very
special; not everyone gets a house up here."

Peyton felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up
the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner.  It was a
3-story mansion with a black and gold sidewalk, a 50 foot tall flagpole
with an enormous Saints logo flag, and in every window, a New Orleans
Saints towel.

Peyton looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but
I have a question.  I was an all-pro QB, I hold many NFL records, and I
even went to the Hall of Fame."

God said "So, what's your point, Peyton?"

"Well, why does Drew Brees get a better house than I do?"

God chuckled, and said "Peyton, that's not Drew's house.  It's Mine."

[jeffrey-wimberly]

"Well, why does Drew Brees get a better house than I do?"

God chuckled, and said "Peyton, that's not Drew's house.  It's Mine."

That's rich! My sides are hurting!

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, All.  I will just have coffee today.  We were fed way too much food at my seminar yesterday.

Sue

[pcarrell]

We were fed way too much food at my seminar yesterday.

Sue

Well, I guess this is your chance to make it all right with the world. You're on top, so you've got the lunch bill!

I'll have the Italian Shrimp please Chloe. Thank You. Miss Sue will be accepting the bill this afternoon, but here's a tip for you.

[ModelTrainLover]

Just got this one in the email a few minutes ago...... host off the presses....

 

Peyton Manning's House In The Sky

Peyton Manning, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven,
God was showing him around.

They came to a modest little house with a faded Colts flag in the
window.

"This house is yours for eternity, Peyton," said God. "This is very
special; not everyone gets a house up here."

Peyton felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up
the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner.  It was a
3-story mansion with a black and gold sidewalk, a 50 foot tall flagpole
with an enormous Saints logo flag, and in every window, a New Orleans
Saints towel.

Peyton looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but
I have a question.  I was an all-pro QB, I hold many NFL records, and I
even went to the Hall of Fame."

God said "So, what's your point, Peyton?"

"Well, why does Drew Brees get a better house than I do?"

God chuckled, and said "Peyton, that's not Drew's house.  It's Mine."

but what about tom bary's house?? 3 super bowls?? 

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon everyone.....temps finally rose to 31.5F a few minutes ago, so it will probably break the freezing mark by 2pm. Snow coming tonight after midnight, about 4" in this area where it is hilly.

Lisa might still be without power in New Hampshire, the southern part of her state got hit hard with ice damage and loss of power. Some people still don't have power yet.

JEFF: Glad to hear your back is OK.....how did the car repair work out? Is your wallet smoking?

RYAN: YOU PASSED!!!!! Great job...did you give this test to your son to see if you beat him? How about the wife?

DER JOHN: After the storm passes by us tomorrow morning, it will really intensify in the Gulf of Maine as it heads Northeast towards NS, so get ready.

Down to the Train room we go, see you guys later,

[gear-jammer]

Ok, I guess you are right.  Maybe I will be ready for this by dinner time.  I just got back from shoveling the driveway.    Not all of it.  I was hoping that I could help it melt so that Larry can get the truck up the hill.  My next step is to take the 4 x 4 up and down the hill to break through to the rock.

Later,  Sue

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Grayfox: My wallet is definately smoking! $495 labor charges. That doesn't include parts. It's a pretty good price though for what was done.

1. Inner and outer control arm bushings replaced.
2. Both strut mount plates replaced.
3. Right CV axle replaced.
4. Both outer tie rod ends replaced.
5. Left lower ball joint replaced.
6. Rear shocks replaced.

Definately a lot less than a new car.

[GMTRacing]

Jeff, That's not a bad price. The bushings can be a real bear especially up here in the northeast where they are usually rusted solid along with the pivot bolts.

Sue, With a handle like gearjammer can we infer that you or your husband drive a large truck? we're just now getting some snow that might actually stick if it stays cold enough.

Dick, I can pass the test just fine but I can't drag the stuff around in the time allotted. Can I at least stand outside the door for my morning coffee?

MTL, Brady doesn't need a mansion. With all those rings he's free to stay where he wants, no? He'll probably have a bungalow down the street from Phil Simms and Jeff Hofstedtlers mansions.

    Stuck around late to work on the gearcase from the SW-8 traction motor that we have to straighten. There's no facility at the museum yard and since we have a whole race car shop I just infiltrate what I need to fix. The gearcase grease that was used was unbelievable, even sending it out to our suppliers machine shop for cleaning didn't work too well though it did flood their furnace with molten grease. At least now I can see where all the damage was done during a derailment and cut/heat/weld/straighten as needed. I'm just waiting for the solvent from final cleaning to dry off so I can mark it out. Hope you all have a good evening,  J.R.

[grayfox1119]

 OHHH Oh, I got a bowl of "soup" dumped on my head by Cloe for Supper. She said it was Chicken Soup......I couldn't find any chicken at all in the soup, so I asked her why she just didn't just call it "shadow" soup, because it looked like the chicken walked through the soup with stilts. That apparently was the wrong thing to say today.....did one of you guys make her angry??

JEFF: Eeeeeeeeeeoooouuuucccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhh!!! $495 for Labor alone!!! The parts must have easily doubled that......

SUE: 4" of snow to shovel ???? Don't even bother, drive over it with your 4x4! LOL Cheer up, Spring is only 2 months away.....AND, many people have forgotten this, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins 3 weeks earlier this year, March 11th, and ends 1 week later in the Fall, November 4th. This gives us one more full month od DST. I don't know why they just didn't add one more month between September and October and call it Septober...LOL

[SOU Fan]

Good morning, All.  I will just have coffee today.  We were fed way too much food at my seminar yesterday.

Sue

Did you try to eat it all or what?

-Smoke

 

[Anonymous]

We go all the way to 1-15-07 with no snow and now it looks like its going to snow almost every day till Tues of next week. But thats ok gives me more of a reason to spend time in the basement. Of course any season is basement season to me,i'm a 365 day a year railroad guy.

  Jeff seems like you really got by not to bad. You hear some horror stories when it comes to car and truck repairs. Thats why I have always been a leaser, take one a 3 year lease, 36000 miles which I can live with thats the biggest thing with leasing (can you live within those miles if not then you can rack up some big bucks fast at $.10 or .20 amile it adds up fast) I like the idea that I always have a warrenty to back me up if I have problems. Then at the end of the 3 yrs. you pick out a new one and drive away.

 Colby, I know just where your coming from kids can really be rotten to each other. I grew up in the early 60's so trains were still cool almost all my freinds had a train set and a racing track also. I let a few guys at work know about my layout and pretty soon they had told most of the other people at work, and there are a few that will give you a wise *** comment now and then, i just let it roll off my back.

  Man i am stuffed i just ate a whole Subway foot long Tuna sub with a shot of sweet onion sauce, and now its time for bed.(burp!!) should have left off the green peppers.

   Inch: You see all these here boys talking about NO and the colts playing, guess they forgot the big NO team still have to make a very cold stop in Shy Town.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Grayfox: The parts only cost about $120 total. The labor is high because a Century with a Riviera suspension system is not what you would call a lightly built vehicle. Everything under it is heavy duty. Did I mention that the worn out parts had almost 270,000 miles on them? They lasted a pretty long time. The car is about 13 years old, by modern standards, an antique.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang: Well Ididn't go to work again to day. Mary Anns appointment was moved to 5 Feb but I ended up having to go to the dentist. I had a crown come off last night. It looked like it took a part of the tooth but was reattached all right.

Der: I think it was you who asked when was the latest that the Soo locks operated. Actually there were a couple of years in the 70s that they operated along year. They kept shipping through the winter to see if it could be done and how expensive it would be. As it turned out it was possible and economical but the demand became less so the experiment was stopped. At that time they didn't have the 1000 footers that they have now, so all the boats could the smaller Mac Arther lock.

Well it's late and tomorrow I have to go to work. Just 14 more.

Inch: Sad news indeed about the missing railfan. My prayers to his family and for the police. I hope they get the responsible party. We've got a tree down by the Brazos River that has been used to handle those types.

Good Night All

[Hoople]

Wanna talk about car repairs?

Don't get me started. My mom used to have a Dodge Grand Caravan.

We spent $17,000 in repairs, it was 8 years old, and it hadn't even traveled 80,000 miles.

[grayfox1119]

Last call for coffee on the East coast....midnight !! It is now snowing, has been for last 4 hours only an inch so far, no big deal at all, although we had 3 cars in an accident on the main route (9) in town on a hill....driving too fast, too close for slippery road conditions...new drivers.

  Had my BP checkup today, 142/80, both arms, so boarderline OK at this time. The new upper limit for borderline hypertension is 135 for Systolic for non Diabetics. CH was OK.

JEFF: I would say that you certainly got your money's worth out of that car.

HOOPLE: Something is wrong son, $17,000 for an 8 year old DG Caravan??? Are you sure you didn't slip an extra 0 in there? You could buy another car for $17,000.

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

01-19-07

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

A friend introduced me to one of his friends that builds model ships and has a train layout.  Well come to find out this guy started his train layout in 1950 and he owned a plastic model factory.  The layout was modeled after 2 rivers so Iron Ore was the prime comodity.  It was an enjoyable evening.  Granted this gentalman is retired and sold his factory, but the various ship owners still go to him to have models of their ship built.  He only builds in HO or N scale.

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 PM EST SATURDAY...

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TODAY ARE LIKELY TO BE FROM 2 TO 3 INCHES. WITH

HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6

TO 12 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHEAST OHIO INLAND SNOW BELT

AREAS AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

Fog/Mist 36°F (2°C)

Humidity: 87 % Wind Speed: SW 17 MPH Barometer: 29.95" Dewpoint: 32°F (0°C) Wind Chill: 26°F (-3°C) Visibility: 6.00 mi.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446      1/19/2007 

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Wind Chill:  34°F
Humidity:  86%
Dew Point:  37°F
 
So Far Today
High:  43°F
Low:  41°F
Rain:  0.03"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  11mph NNE
 
High: 52 °F
Low: 39 °F

Now through 06:45 AM CST January 19, 2007

 High: 52 
 
Through 7 AM...areas of rain and fog can be found across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, including the adjacent coastal waters. You can expect a steady light-to-moderate rainfall, with intensity ranging from 1/10 inch per hour to 1/4 inch per hour.  

Today  High: 52    Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of light rain or drizzle. Highs in the lower 50s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
  
Tonight  Low: 38    Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Lows in the upper 30s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

Today I'd like an omelet with all the fixings.

[inch53]

Mornin, just some coffee for now Zoe,

Suppose to be a sunny day, high in the 30's, NW wind at 15, gust to 30 possable. A good day to inside and play, think I will too.

RYAN, good joke. I was going to say some thing bout the Saints getting beat by DA Bears. But I thought I'd let that one pass.

FARGO, your right bout the dome teams having trouble with open fields and cold. Saints are already in Chi town trying to get ready for it. So we'll see how well it works, NOT

COLBY, I had some problems with bully's in school, because I had different ideas than the crowd.  I finally had to stand up for myself and they left me alone after that. The best I can tell you is just be yourself, not what others want you to be. All the teasing and such can make you a better and stronger person in the end.

JEFF, you got by cheap on parts n labor for the car repair. We had had to phave a new intake gasket on Mother's bus this week. I think the parts alone are going to be round $100. We don't worry bout labor charges to much, since the boys like the free bay sitting here.

PAUL, there be a couple of trees like yours along the Wabash. I think they need to be put back in use more.

  Best get on ta chores, if I want some play time this morning. Hope ya'll has a good day

inch 

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

     30F and snowing this morning. No real accumulation yet, but we'll see. In any event the high today should be in the high 30's with partly sunny and the snow showers ending by afternoon so I dooubt the white stuff will stick around for any amount of time.

      Worked out trackage for the gravel and concrete company area (the former river bed). I need to cut in around the switches for Peco under switch machines but fortunately it's one of the areas with 2" foam so I need only to cut the hole and clearance a bit of the road bed to suit. We'll see how it progresses as I wasn't terribly ambitious last night.

Colby - even $1,700 for repairs is too much on an older vehicle especially where we live as there is usually rust involved. That stuff can sneak up on you though and needs a good mechanic to spot what's really in store for trouble before it happens. The problem is most folks now wait until trouble happens before doing anything beyond an oil change and before they know it a transmission job followed by other drive train trouble has them with so much invested in repairs they can't afford to cut the car loose and take the loss.  

Hope you all have a good day - I'm still standing in the lobby until Dick tells the girls it's ok for me to enter. Seems a bit harsh that I got all the answers right on his stupid geography test but got banned just because I couldn't drag the stupid mouse around fast enough (it's hard enough just catching those little critters).  CUL, time to pick up tools, J.R.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Inch: That must be a good size gasket. I had the intake manifold gasket on my car replaced a couple of years ago. The gasket was $25 and the labor was about $45. That was on a V6 with a water cooled intake manifold.