Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

01-25-07

[inch53]

Mornin, coffee and a couple doughnuts Zoe,

A cold one here today, high round 22-23, some sun latter in the day, with a NNW wind at 10-15, gust to 20. Low for tonight lower teens.  Looks like I'll have to sleep close to Mother tonight.

JR, there's a big hog operation, I heard about that was using the manure to make methan. Then using methan to make the ethanol, building heating and generate electricy, and any extra back to the power companys. They weren't making much profit yet, but it could be done with improvements in equipment.

DICK, that flu bug is makeing rounds here to, bout everybodys had it. A couple of the grand kids twice. So far I've lucked out [knocking on wood]. I'll keep an eye out for those tank cars, but I haven't been out doing much rail fanning lately, lousy weather.

JIM CG, #1 son had a round with Walmart over Christmas, they called him and said the script was ready. Then when he got there, it wasn't. Told to just do some shopping while he waited. When he left, the store manager was walking a couple pounds lighter after Pat chewed on his back side.

DER, like the ocean, look great

Best get ta chores, got kids today and me an Mother both have doc appointments here in town today, and a birthday party to go to this evening. Won't be ant play time today. Hope ya'll has a gooden

inch

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

     Regular and a donut wrapped for travel please. Cold and some light snow on the ground this morning typical January weather at last.

     Inch - sounds like the pig farm hit on a good thing though any action that keeps the "end product" on the property longer has it's drawbacks. Nothing has an aroma quite like a large pile of pig droppings. The trick is to use the nonrenewable resources in such a way as to cut the future use of them in favor of for instance your friends pigs. You need to raise the pigs anyway so if you use the byproducts to make energy for the raising of the pigs and replace fossil fuel doing it, the break even part should be deductible at least from taxes. Incentives work much better than just raising prices through the roof.

    DerJohn - The work is coming along very nicely. The rocks have just the right look and the wind driven waves are way cool. Looks like a typical Maritimes coastal scene though the neighbours in Lockeport would think you a bit uppity having such a nice shiney shed and wharf. You can trace the history of most of the fishing and lobster boats by looking at the different paint strata where it's worn away on the hull. Don't forget the piles of old traps, tangled seaweed fouled rope and old markers in the corner. And at least two nondescript friendly mutts and an armada of "sea pidgeons".

Time to pick up tools. CUL,J.R.

[ModelTrainLover]

morning guys! http://weather.yahoo.com/img/us_ne_9regradar_medium_usen.html

here is what it looks like in the NorthEast

 

[inch53]

Another coffee Zoe,

JR, there's not much smell with the process, most any big hog operation has little smell IF it 's run right. With the process their useing after the manure going throught the digester, the remains are dried [sun] and it smells like good top grade compost for sell or their own use back in the fields [which cuts back on store bought ferilizer]. They even get manure from other operations, that have trouble getting rd of it.

 In the end they market hogs, electricity, and ethanol. No real market for the extra methan yet. They also used soy-deisel in their farm equipemt and trucks. So, their fossil fuel use is very little compared to most operations. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning, how is everybody on this Thursday morning?

Yesterday I removed the old open frame motor from my antique Bachmann and shoe-horned a PPW can motor into it's place. There's a 300% difference.

Before

After

Now it doesn't sound like a pepper mill anymore.

Here's a scene that's been preserved from my old layout and will be a part of the new one.

First, in darkness.

Then in the light.

Now, on with the business at hand.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/25/2007

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Wind Chill:  31°F
Humidity:  84%
Dew Point:  33°F
 
So Far Today
High:  41°F
Low:  37°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  8mph N
 
High: 59 °F
Low: 36 °F

Today  High: 60    Sunny and warmer. Highs around 60. North winds up to 10 mph.  

Tonight  Low: 35    Clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Northeast winds up to 10 mph.

For breakfast this morning, pancakes!

[edger]

This look like a nice place to step inside and have a hot cup of Jo.  We are getting a lake affect snow in southwest MI today; if it wouldn’t make me lat to class I would stop and enjoy it.  I think I will get some eggs sunside.

 The manure farm is a good idea, this dairy farmer near were I lived in the lat 80’s tied to do that but the cost was to much to get started and went bell up before he really got it working but the technology nowadays should make the process a lot better.  Any improvement to the energy system is much need.

[Cox 47]

Good morning All....Sunny and colder than the north end of a well digger 17 and winds to 20 mph from the north west....I'll have the lumberjack breakfast and coffee please....I got KD's mounted on the Trix switcher yesterday.and opening around coupler closed in..Then as I was check it out right before bed last nite the hand rail fell off took a dive to the carpet and vanished looks like I'll have to see if I can make a new one out of brass wire....I have done a little of that in HO but I don't know about N....Edger....Welcome to the coffee shop..Tell us a little about yourself and come back often...Jeff...You tease us with shots of your railroad but i for one would like to see more ...How about it.....Der.....Great job on the waves i could almost hear the surf!!...Jim....Lots of luck on finding a new apartment....You all have a good day....Jerry

[der5997]

Good  morning folks:  A JR regular please Zoë, and an oatmeal-raisin muffin, heated, with butter.  Thanks.  A brilliant sunny morning it is, to be sure!  Chilly though, a good thing there’s little or no wind.

 

I’m on page 41, and haven’t read ahead before replying to what people have posted, so please forgive any obvious anachronisms!

 

OZJim:

Plasma is the way to go. One thing though, we would NEVER go back to a conventional T.V.

  All the talk about HDTV, LED vs Plasma, back projection etc. has me wondering.  Why is it that as the technology for a sharper image improves, the quality of programming takes a dive?... or maybe that’s just a North American blight.  Still, I have to agree that when we finally have to get a new set it will most likely be HDTV, and quite possibly LCD, if we can afford it.

Plasma is the way to go. One thing though, we would NEVER go back to a conventional T.V.

…Congrats!, enjoy the NCE.  I’ve got the Powerhouse Pro, with a walk around, but not wireless, but you have a smaller layout, so may not even need that.  One thing, on my Powerhouse Pro, I only have memory for 6 loco or consist addresses.  I thought that that would be lots for my layout and stable, but it is sometimes an inconvenience.  Just a thought.

 

JP:

have to find a new home for the bird  " style='width:11.25pt;height:11.25pt'> " border="0" width="15" height="15" /> (neighbors are starting to complain about it cause it now wakes up at 430am when I do and goes nonstop chirping till I leave at 545 for work))

…at least it stops.  Rosie-the-dog has taken to barking pretty much through the day and night (or so it seems to us).  There is a fox around, and we think that that is the main reason.  The neighbours haven’t said anything yet…..

 

Sue:

The first layer almost totally disappeared.  Is that normal? 

…what was the base you poured onto?  From the pic it looks like a sealed-with-glue natural rocks on painted plaster.  The only thing I can think of is that the plaster the rocks were set in wasn’t painted or otherwise sealed sufficiently.  But I’ve not used WS water.

So I am taking you up on your signature quote!

 

Dick:

And, the storm that will brush us on Thursday, "may" nail you with snow as it does a left hook off the coast of Nova Scotia. Bring your wood supply in from the shed.

…yeh, we’re watching that one.  At the moment the weather channel is giving 80% probability of snow for Halifax on Friday.  More in Cape Bretton, and we are in between the two here on Sober Island.

 

Colby: Mrr and competitive swimming too.  You sure have a busy schedule.  Watch the fishes!   Thanks for the train pics.

 

Jeff:

Keep in mind that this was made in Germany in the 70's.

…East or West?

 

Kris is making lunch noises, so I’m off to the trough.

 

TTFN

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff:

Keep in mind that this was made in Germany in the 70's.

…East or West?

West

[pcarrell]

Der, I think I can hear the wind whipping those wave up!  It looks awesome!  Makes me homesick for Maine again!

 

Well, it's been a while since I've had the honors of treating all you fine folks to lunch, so here goes!

Chloe and Zoe have put together a fine feast for us today!

Their World Famous Burro is one option........

Or, for those of you who have something more American in mind, how about something off of the grill........

And then theres the ever popular Surf and Turf.........

Me, I'm going light today.  I'll have the Salmon please!

Please tip your hostess generously!  The girls did a fine job today!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ah! Philip's buying!

I'll have the burrito and the tacos.

[SilverSpike]

Good morning folks! Err.... I mean afternoon......dang......I got to get some better coffee there.......these naps are killing my productivity!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Thanks Philip! How about the blue plate (surf and turf) special Chloe? Yum!

How about this for service? So I drive up to the local quick oil and lube service center on Tuesday, the truck is over due for an oil change. So I pull up to the facility at around 5:00 PM and the attendant says that it will be at least 35 to 40 minutes before he can get to me because they just got in a truck load of supplies and had to re-stock the shelves. This place is supposed to be open until 7:30 PM. I said, no problem, I will come back tomorrow. On the drive home I am thinking "now this place is supposed to be open until 7:30 PM and I was essentially told that they are closed temporarily for a half hour. Okay, whatever! 

So the next day, Wednesday, I arrive there after work around 5:10 PM for an oil change and the attendant (another person) tells me that the other associate just went on a lunch break and he was working on another car and also had to do an inspection too, it would be another 35 or 40 minutes. So now I am agitated because this is the second time I have tried to get an oil change at the "quick" lube place, and it isn't going to be quick! So I left again and will most likely not be back for some time to come!

I am going to Advance Auto Parts today after work to get an oil filter and just change the oil myself tomorrow morning; I still have ½ a case of oil at the house.

Sue, I like those timber logging cars. Are those Kadee?

back Derrick!

Good morning everyone, a bright, clear day here today, 29F at the moment, but there is a vicious cold front headed our way later this afternoon, and we may have record cold here by Friday. I think from the radar shots that our good buddies in Nova Scotia are already in the severe cold, maybe that is why we haven't seen them in the Diner yet.

    I don't know how things are health-wise in your parts of the country and the world for that matter, but things are getting tough here in the Northeast, kids and adults getting flu-like sickness daily...high rates in school right now. It has been so very warm this winter, now we are getting brutal cold for this region, so we are under the gun now.

See you guys at lunch,

Dick, yea, I hear that the temps will not get above 40 F. around here for the next week or so. And Ben too is sick with a sinus infection all week now!

Jim, sorry you had a tough day, and with you assistant being out that sounds like more work too! You having some service issues too I see. We have had problems with Walgreen's in the past, but that was back in New Orleans. Same kind of stuff, promise you the Rx would be ready by a certain time, and go pick it up and still not ready...wait another 20 minutes... We ended up going to CVS after that!

Oh, and Jim, I guess you forgot, we live in North Carolina now, moved here last year. Our house is about 120 miles from the coast and sits at an elevation around 410' above sea level. I think we are out of harms way now as far as the ice melt and sea level rising issue goes. Don't ask me about ice storms!!!!!

Der John, I really like those waves cresting in the sea!  Great job! Thanks for finally posting them pics!

Inch, my back yard temp gauge gets to the teens in the early morning too!

Philip, boy oh boy....that lunch was perfect......hit the spot.....now it's time for another nap......

Cheers,

Ryan

[ModelTrainLover]

calling in sick 2day stupid signis infection

Ginger ale and a Benadrill scignis headach pill. thanks..

Maine Lobster? Best in the world!!

[der5997]

Good afternoon all:  Lunch turn out to be using up left overs, but shrimp stir fry and smoked salmon, what’s not to like? (The salmon was from a neighbour who was given two packs for Christmas (frozen, home smoked).  Her husband didn’t like it, said it was tasteless, so she gave one pack to Kris.  It’s delicious, he’s just getting old I guess.

A green tea please Chloë, and a slice of the virtually no sugar added Pecan pie (how do they do that?), thanks. It continues fine on the east coast of Nova scotia, but ‘tis the calm before the weather bomb, due tomorrow, and especially tomorrow night / Saturday.  I may just get in some more kindling, Dick.

 

Paul:  I have some “Pecan” questions.  Why do the shells get dyed?  What is the dye? What colour (the kind of brown , I guess) are the natural shells.  Thanks.

 

JR:

though we might end up regretting the inaction that has let so much farmland erode into streams and rivers

…no need to worry about that.  Keep the farms producing corn for food (direct consumption and as stock feed), and use other sources of “sugars” to make the ethanol.  Biomass is the way to go, and just about everything plant like that grows, just about anywhere is a potential source of “Cellulosic Ethanol”  Google that and sit back for a wonder ride!  Or, let me save you some time.. http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/enews/enews_0505/enews_0505_Cellulosic_Ethanol.htm

 

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/biomass_basics.html

and here’s an economics one…http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0604600103v1

Forestry slash is a great source, as are mowings from along and between highways!

The rocks have just the right look and the wind driven waves are way cool.

  Thanks JR.  The rocks should look right as they are straight, unwashed from our driveway!

Looks like a typical Maritimes coastal scene though the neighbours in Lockeport would think you a bit uppity having such a nice shiney shed and wharf.

…Photos are before I have any weathering done!  I agree, it’s a tad pristine looking.  But OTOH, it’s meant to be a renovated building, so it could have had a recent coat of paint.  I’ve a lot of roof detailing (tanks, vent, refrigeration etc.) to do yet, and won’t weather until after that.  That’s a new industry taken over the traditional use of the wharf, so it’s my excuse for not going the

Don't forget the piles of old traps, tangled seaweed fouled rope and old markers in the corner. And at least two nondescript friendly mutts and an armada of "sea pidgeons".

route.  But I will need some gulls, that never changes.  Incidentaly, we see far fewer gulls here on the shore than we saw way inland at Edmonton, where “dump gulls” are myriad.

 

Jeff:  nice job on that motor conversion. Looks really powerful too.

 

Dick:

We must keep money from flowing OUT of our country, especially to countries that are using this money for causes detremental to our country.

…

Wal-Mart Alert!

1:87^th scale military vehicles, cars, caterpillar earth moving equipment, john deer tractors, and NASCARs.  $3 each.

…Hmm….

 

Sue:  Still drooling over your rock work!  I agree those bathers need a visit to the tannery!  Nice spine cars, BTW.

CapeJim:

Got logs for them yet? I've liked what I see in the catalog of the Rivarossi log cars (which if I'm remembering correctly, come with logs, right?).

…er, I thought that what twigs were for….

Edger: to the diner.  Enquiring minds will be asking  mrr interests? Scale?  Era? Roads?

 

Just time to get this posted before Rosie-the-dog has to fed.

TTFN.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening everyone....sorry to be checking in so late today, but this morning I had a dentist appointment at 10:45 that I thought would be about an hour....nay, nay, I was still in the chair at 2pm!!! I had a molar, 3rd from the lower rear that had a deep pocket. Several years ago I had 4 quads of gum surgery to correct the errors of my early youth and lack of dental knowledge in the 40's and 50's. This one tooth had bone grafts done 5 years ago, but the pocket was too deep to close around it at the gum line, so the two roots were less than 50% remaining and this pocket was causing problems with two adjacent teeth that were strong and healthy......SOOOOOOO, after deep scaling, it was determined that a bone graft again would not work, so a pullin we will go. And because this tooth had a root canal done years ago, the dentist had to saw the tooth in half ( vertically, top to gum) so that it would not break in pieces......root canal teeth get brittle with age. Then came the bone graft at the bone line and stitches to close the pocket. 4 weeks later I go back and they screw in a post, and then insert a new tooth. WOW, modern dentistry!!!

  So tonight I am on anti- biotics for 10 days, a bottle of pain killers if I need them, and an ice bag tied to my jaw so that I have two hands to type this with..LOL I wish you guys could see me...what a sight!!!

ED: The Red Sox will sign Drew tomorrow...5 year $70M contract, if his shoulder is still OK after the 3rd year, he gets the remaining 2 years.

J.R. I will be at the show on Saturday, I should be there at 9 am with son #3 and family, are you in the Better Homes bldg? What table # ?

DER JOHN: It is down to 12F right now at 6:30pm, the Dew Point is 7F, so it can go down to as low as 7F tonight. I can imagine that will be about -20C tonight? I like the way your ocean waves came out...very, very nice!!!!!

MIKE: Yes, with the weather so cold now, you really don't feel much like going out to take pics around the countryside.

Later,

[edger]

I think I will have something of the grill, I could smell it from outside and it made me come in.

 

A little about me, I call home central NY home but I go to collage in south west MI and will graduate in May with a BSE is Electrical Engineering. So basically I am a nerd that lives in labs and have my head in books.

 

I am like a little boy in a candy store when it comes to trains although I don't know much about then. When I was a about 8 I had a HO 4x8 in my room. I had a lot of fun with it but I grow out of it. So I talked my parent let me have parts of the basement and started a N scale, I think I have like a 20x30 space but it not a nice basement never got for with it. But recently have started working on it again when I can get home on brakes. I haven't put to much thought into my track paining, I thought I would do it as I go, I know not the best way.

[JPowell]

Evening all -

Chloe - How about the Mixed Grill Platter w/ a side of the surf, please? Thanks!

Dick - I just saw the story on Drew. Good news I say! And as for Ethanol Plants, some developer purchased a former Miller Brewery plant about 30 minutes from me and has poured alot of money into the rail infrastructure and some structural repairs and is now in full swing of remodeling the inside of the plant. They hope to be running by year's end, if not sooner.

Lee - Look for that email sometime tomorrow (most likely around noonish)

Well all,

Take care!

[pcarrell]

Oh, I see how it is!  Everybody get the surf and turf, and put ole Philip in the poor house!  I see how it is!

[der5997]

Good evening diner peoples: Thanks for your kind words about the way the ocean turned out.  I took the opportunity to work in a couple of “spray in the air” scenes.  This one’s in the cove against a rock out in the water.  Sorry about the lighting, I’m not much up on photography.

The other is against rocks over which the access road down to the wharf is built.

BTW, check out the seaweed.  The yellow stuff is pretty much normal for around here. 

 

Dick:  Thanks for the emails today, but 4 Meg! I’m afraid I just have to delete from the server before it tries to download. At 24 kbph it would take about an hour for that puppy to come in the door!

That’s altogether too long to be in a dentist’s chair.  Hope you sleep well tonight!

 

CSX fans…here’s a reason for switching to Normal Scale if you aren’t there yet. (Yeah edger!)

BTW, edger, you probably don’t need all that space for a layout in N, so go for something manageable in the “nicest” part, and have fun.

 

I’m out of here early tonight. So all, and God Bless.  Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.

 

 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: 8 days to go. Today was really great. Mary Ann and I started cutting up an oak tree that had died and partly fallen over. I got out the new gas pole saw and the chain saw but never used the chain saw. The pole saw was real nice. I was able to reach into the mess of tangled branches and vines and cut and drag out stuff without getting all tangled up and no scratches to my hide.

 We got half of the mess cleaned up and hauled off when the man from the building outfit came. After we showed him the sight and took a walk around we sat down and laied out what we wanted. With the changes and additions that we wanted the bill came to some over $11,000 for a 14x40 With a loft. That was about what I expected. So maybe in a couple of months or sooner I'll get the basement to myself. Oh, I mean Mary Ann will get her building.

Der: I didn't know that they dyed pecans. The natural color is brown. They are really nice looking if polished alittle. Just rub them in your hand. What color do they dye them? If you are getting the pecans up there it maybe to identify them as having been through customes and inspection for disease. The waves look very good. You did a great job.

Edgar: I'll add my . Enjoy the food, it's on PC.

Well Daisy the dog needs to go out so I'd better get going.

Good Night All

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Just checking in. I had a busy day today. Had a Dr. appointment to go to, several little errands to take care of and I got my handicap parking permit. It's permanant, so I don't have to have it renewed every couple of months.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, folks! Chloe, a hot fudge sundae and a cup of coffee, please. Is PC still buying? Great - but see, PC, I didn't get the 'surf and turf', at least!

to the Diner, Edger! Another option on your layout - since you have all that room - would be to switch from nearly iNvisible to Horribly Oversized... Well, if you must work in iNvisible, okay...

A little bummed tonight; didn't get any stuff moved to the storage shed, but got some stuff picked to move. Just not sure I'll have enough stuff out by the landlord's deadline. One of those two-sided things : "Hmm, tomorrow's (already) Friday!" vs. "At last, it's Friday!"...

Like the one card I saw once - "Don't you wish life had a 'fast forward' button?"   Want to get back to MRR'ing, but have to focus on other stuff for now. Okay, enough pity party. Think I'll read some more in MRP 2007, so I have something more pleasant to wind up the day.

Blessings and good evening,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

01-26-07

[LSWrr]

Mostly Cloudy

16°F
(-9°C)

Good morning all, got some snow, not much but sure is icey!

Lee

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

      a roasting hot 2F at daybreak today, fair skies with a high in the 20's predicted. Heat wave tomorrow with a high predicted in the mid 30's. Jetta wouldn't start this morning so jumped it off the trusty old '89 Festiva. I'll have the coffee and one of Bills' donuts please. And a new battery to go.

      Finished packing layout displaycars for the museum and testing power last night. I'm holding off on a couple of decoder installs until I get back so I have DC stuff to run on the display layout. The New Haven will handle head end power and passenger service.

Dick - If I talk to the queen bee today I'll try to find out where the Danbury Railway Museum will be set up. Last year it was the first building on the right off the back parking lot. I'll be there from the beginning though I'll try to do a quick walk around before the doors open. Hope the snow Sunday holds off - I'll probably get asked to help drive the truck back again after the show (helping entailed driving the whole way back in the rain last year).

Der - Well if the rocks be local that's why they looked exactly right. I can feel the smooth but grainy texture just by looking at them. They filled the embankment of the channel by my moms' house with just those texture rocks and we always go climbing them when we visit. If you climb all the way out you reach the end of the road to Roods' Point which has a fine view over Crescent Beach and the further coast complete with breakers and foam. The seaweed looks good also, now all you need is the dark green wash to replicate the moss that grows on the rocks between the high and low tide marks.

   Hope you all have a fine day I have clients coming n from Pa and Ohio so time to tidy up and get ready for show and tell.  CUL,J.R. 

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe - a cup of coffee and some scrambled eggs and bacon, please. Thanks!

Seems strange that it got colder last night (some frost on the car's windshield this a.m., I see) but is supposed to get into the 50's (F - teens in C) today. But tomorrow it only is to get into the 40's before cooling back down into the 30's (and possibility of some sNoah).

I've about decided to head off the landlord, and notify him that I'll be moving out by the end of February. That may give me enough time to get things moved out (either to the new place or storage shed).  

Well, I need to finish getting ready for work. Those of you with the icy/snowy weather today, drive carefully (okay, we all should be doing that, right? ).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/26/2007 
 
Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23

Wind Chill:  31°F
Humidity:  90%
Dew Point:  33°F
 
So Far Today
High:  42°F
Low:  36°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph E
 
High: 59 °F
Low: 35 °F

Today  High: 65    Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds.  

Tonight  Low: 45    Increasing clouds. A 20 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 40s. Light and variable winds.

Ham and eggs today please.

[pcarrell]

Morning all!

Beautiful morning, isn't it?

So hows everyone doing?

Well, the wife is getting ready for her big trip. For those of you who don't know, she's going with her parents to Florida until the middle of next month. She has some fences to mend with them and this will be a good chance for her to do that. She leaves Sunday and gets back sometime around Valentines Day. So, while I'll miss her and all, I plan on lots of model railroad construction while shes gone. Besides, it'll keep my mind off the fact that shes not there.

 

[ModelTrainLover]

Horably Oversized is not so HO is Historicaly Oringal.