MARK: you know what it is right now here on the East coast, about 50 miles in from the Atlantic? 6.5F and headed for -4F by morning!!!!!!!!!!
Now that Winter is about over, and we have had enough of cold weather.....it ARRIVES in New England, in all it's glory !!! These weather patterns are really screwy. We used to be able to skate on the ponds by Thanksgiving, now we have to cut grass in late November....... Send those 70's east young man !!!
Evening Gang:
Dick: I think that the article you refered to is on the BNSF west in New Mexico. If there were 100 trains a day here we would never be able to haul hay across those tracks. We have 30 to 35 a day now and it gets busy at times.
Not much here. I got the rail joiner problem worked out and I tripped and banged up my left hand a bit. No workmens comp. Mary Ann is letting me order 48 6" dia wheels for the narrow gauge cars. Roll Models is having a 50% off sale and a couple of the guys will be able to pick them up and bring them here so no shipping.
We ordered Mary Anns new cook stove and over the stove microwave today. Now I have to move out the old stove and get ready for the new one. The new one isn't coming untill next Wednesday so I've got a bit of time.
Well I guess I'll head for bed.
Good Night All
grayfox1119 wrote: MARK: you know what it is right now here on the East coast, about 50 miles in from the Atlantic? 6.5F and headed for -4F by morning!!!!!!!!!! Send those 70's east young man !!!
Send those 70's east young man !!!
Pour me some coffee for dessert.
Dick, Today was another day that was near 70 degrees. Yes, we had snow last week. Tomorrow it will cool off again and rain.
Inch, I remember my Dad's house and all the branches on the lawn prior to the first mowing. What a mess. We do not have any trees that are close to the house for that reason.
Philip, You have been busy with side dishes. How is your layout doing? Are we due for some pictures?
JR, Your project is looking quite involved. It will be a great scene.
I hate to rub spring in your faces ,but didn't you have nice weather when we were starting the bad weather. If I remember, someone had 70 degrees when we had no power. I am sure that we will have plenty of boring cold rainy weather again soon.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
gear-jammer wrote: Philip, You have been busy with side dishes. How is your layout doing? Are we due for some pictures?
Very soon I should have something to show off.
pcarrell wrote: gear-jammer wrote: Philip, You have been busy with side dishes. How is your layout doing? Are we due for some pictures?Very soon I should have something to show off.
It is so great to see progress.
Good evening, Chloe - I see that Dick is buying tonight, so I'll have a brownie a la mode, with a cup of coffee to wash it down, please.
Not a lot new on my layout, but I'm eyeing some Model Railstuff loads for most of my hoppers. I have several of the Athearn 34' offset side ones (2-bay), and about the same number of Accurail 3-bay hoppers, so I'm looking to get some coal as well as stone/gravel loads for each. I'm going to be looking at getting loads for most of my freight cars next. Less expensive than buying more cars and having too many of them run empty. I did get in those LifeLike generator loads, plus some Chooch crates and the LifeLike palletized boxes. But I need to get back to wiring (and sanding down some uneven spots in the track), so I can run some trains!
I am wanting to semi-scratchbuild a church for the layout, somewhat after the lines of this one:
I already have some styrene board and batten for the walls, plus some possible windows that I'll order from Grandt Line, and some shingle roof material. Won't completely follow the kit, because I want mine to be unique and not like any other - I'll also be simplifying the bell tower construction, too. I need to start drawing some working plans over next weekend.
Weather's cooling off some tonight, but only down to the upper 30's (F), and supposed to warm back into the 60's tomorrow. Not as good as Sue's or Chuck & Kathy's weather, but not as cold as Dick's having, either. Hey, I'll take reasonable weather when I can get it around here...
Guess I'd better be moseying off to bed. Tomorrow's payday, so I'll need to look at the bills and see what I have left (after church offering and the bills) for the MRR stuff.
Hope everyone stays healthy and comfy (staying inside if need be), and prayers for those who are ailing.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
I like the photo of the church, Jim, and agree it would make a neat model. Good luck with the planning for it.
G'nite, everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good morning ! from Indiana.
03-07-07
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good Morning All,
I see Bills' been in with the donuts and the coffee's fresh so I'll have a regular and a donut please.
Good to see some familiar names back. How's your empire coming along Sue? It's 7F and snowing lightly mixed with freezing rain. Of course my hands got way cold before I coulld get my gloves on. The joys of blood thinners I suppose, at least the howling winds stopped. Spent time at the museum last evening working on the display. my side is pretty much done except for a backshop and water tank behind the roundhouse and then the landscape for that area.
I agree the church model would be nice. I also think the belltower should not be necked down so much. Most of them around here go straight up with lots of louvers so that the sound goes out and not down into the sanctuary.
Paul - now that you worked out the tie plates, you'll be wanting an auto chuck CNC mill to make them in bulk, no? Be careful, we always refer to it as production w..k. LOL
Gary - That is some real nice work on the steel mill. What's next?
Time to pick up tools speaking of w..k and get to it. Hope you all have a goodun' CUL,J. R.
It's a little on the cool side this morning but it'll warm up later.
Wind Chill: 39°FHumidity: 88%Dew Point: 36°F So Far TodayHigh: 43°FLow: 39°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 0mph NNE Today High: 72 Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Light and variable winds.
Tonight Low: 45 Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Light and variable winds.
I'll have pancakes today.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Howdy howdy.
If I could have a cup of coffee please. There's no school today due to snow, so I thought that I would drop by the good ol' Diner.
Thank you all for your kind words and regards about my B-Day.
Train show wasn't impressive at all...I don't think it was worth the admission cost. There wasn't even a full hall. I guess that is to be expected from a first year train show.
Got my tickets for the Senior Dinner Cruise the other day. Can't wait to go. March 24, I'll be on the Chesapeake Bay, on the Lady Baltimore (if I'm not mistaken) with my girl.
Dick: I don't want to wait that long to start playing with trains again...Hopefully, if we can move into a bigger house in a few months, I'll have enough space to at least build a switching layout of some sort. That'll be fun; especially, if I can't sleep.
Der: I'm going to try to jump on here whenever I can. I'm not sure how often I'll be though.
Inch: So far, haven't worn myself out yet...But I think the Senior-itis of high school is lingering around...
Fargo: Car's in the shop as we speak. Should have it back the week after next.
PC: Loved the pictures!
Mmmkay, I'l be around. Catch y'all later.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
Good Morning, Diners - Zoe, I see Bill's been in. One of his donuts, please, and a cup of coffee, please. Thanks!
Yep, I figure the cut-outs on the bell tower would be too much w**k to make (and don't look typical of that kind of church that I've seen). I'm planning on the braces under the eaves to be simpler too - just straight-line braces across and down from the top of the eave roofline.
JR, sounds like you've been busy at the museum doing that 'w' thing on the layout. Hope that the rest of the crew has/will be keeping up with you on their end of the layout.
Scott, good to see you in the Diner again. That's the spirit on maintaining a layout. The Senior Dinner Cruise thing sounds like it should be fun. Hopefully, it will be warmer when that's supposed to happen, right?
Sounds like it's still cold back east there. We're already up around 36 F this morning, and supposed to have a clear day, up into the low 50's for our temp. But the weatherguessers are talking rain for the weekend (of course?). Good excuse to stay in and do some MRR stuff (almost slipped and said wk, Paul...)
Garry, I'll have to track down the link to your steel mill work (in whatever forum it's in), so I can see your handiw**k.
Jeff, are you really going to have cooler weather down your way today than us? Maybe you'll get a bit warmer than 43 - sure hope so, for your sake!
Time for me to go get ready for my day. Everyone take care!
Blessings for your days,
Morning everyone.
Paul W. Beverung wrote: Mary Ann is letting me order 48 6" dia wheels for the narrow gauge cars. Roll Models is having a 50% off sale and a couple of the guys will be able to pick them up and bring them here so no shipping. We ordered Mary Anns new cook stove and over the stove microwave today. Now I have to move out the old stove and get ready for the new one.
Mary Ann is letting me order 48 6" dia wheels for the narrow gauge cars. Roll Models is having a 50% off sale and a couple of the guys will be able to pick them up and bring them here so no shipping.
We ordered Mary Anns new cook stove and over the stove microwave today. Now I have to move out the old stove and get ready for the new one.
Paul, is there a connection here we should know about?
That nice weather is coming Dick, I'm on vacation next week and the forcast is for a high temp of 60 on Monday.
gear-jammer wrote: Dick, Today was another day that was near 70 degrees. Yes, we had snow last week. Tomorrow it will cool off again and rain.
Good morning everyone.....another bone chilling morning under bright blue skies here in the highlands of central Mass. It is currently 10.9F with 11 mph winds from the Canadian direction (NW). We have yet another Arctic blast coming in for tomorrow night with temps below zero, then a big warm up over the weekend .....finally.
SCOTT: Have a great time on your Senior trip, these are the times you will remember all your lives.
ATTABOY: Yes, I was watching the weather Channel and the local stations out of Boston, and we have warm weather headed our way for this weekend and next week. Enjoy your vacation, where are you headed?
SUE: Ya I know, I know, you guys had it tough in November, December and January, now it is our turn, tsk tsk...go cut your grass !!!!!! LOL LOL
CAPE JIM: What are you wiring at this time, extension of power buss or track feeders?
J.P.: NECN news this morning said there were so many accidents down your way on the Interstate that they gave up counting. Hope your drive in was safe. It was a local thing, the storm to the south just grazed southern NE and got you guys, we have sunny skies jut 30 miles north.
Anyone have a chair that Phil could have? I mean Florida Phil not midwest Phil. He needs one for the bus that he drives...I will let Phil clue you in, something about 500 pound guys that destroy the seat so badly that Phil has to sit ( fall ) into these deep ravines with his butt, and that caused severe back pain after 8 hours of driving. I was thinking more in the line of a nice leather recliner with auto heat and vibrator.....
JEFF: Where are you this morning?
Lunch time here. I'll have the cheeseburger with lettuce, mayo, and tomato, an order of fries, and a Mt. Dew, Chloe. Thanks.
Dick, I'm going home for vacation. No plans to travel anywhere, just some time off to recharge the batteries. I'm having a new water softener installed next Tuesday and want to see if I can get my lawn tractor serviced next week so it is ready for the grass mowing season. Otherwise, if the weather is good I'll clean up the yard and take care of some things outside. If the weather is bad I'll work on some projects I have going inside, including the MRR.
Good afternoon folks!
Seven pages since my last post a week ago.
I've been working on a swing gate drawing in 3rd PlanIt for the layout where I have the main line track crossing the aisle way. Here is the current drawing:
I was inspired by the recent MR article and pdf download "Build a swinging gate for easy access" by Gary Hoover. I hope to build this swing gate on Friday.
I posted a new thread on this topic here: http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1059584/ShowPost.aspx
Chloe, thanks for the water. I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup please. And an un-sweet tea too! Thanks!
Here is a funny story for ya:
I was at the local bank drive-up teller yesterday after work. This is a relatively new branch that was just built and opened up about five months ago. The drive-up has video monitors that let you see the teller, and they have a camera on the customers so they can see you too. Well, I put my deposit in the box and sent it on up the vacuum tube. Since I was stopped now and waiting for the deposit receipt, I took this opportunity of rest to clear my nasal passages. Took me about 5 tissues to get it all out, at my age and with the amount hair in my nose some of dem little buggers need a little tugging to get out of there. So, just as I finish up with the nasal emergency, I hear the teller...
Teller:"Mr. Boudreaux....hello....Mr. Boudreaux?"
Me: "err....a.....yes! Hello!" While struggling to finish wiping my nose.
Teller: "We have great rates on CD's at 5.5% for 12 months right now, would you like to put some of your money in one today?"
Not sure if she saw my nasal antics on her little video monitor in the bank, but it must have been a show if she did! I told her I needed to review all their rates before I committed.
Monique found a lump last week, went to the doc and the x-rays showed it is a fibrocystic cyst, and not cancer. So that is good news! Now she has to go back for a follow-up visit in 6 months.
Thoughts and prayers to all in need!
Cheers,
Ryan
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Ryan... the 3rd planit drawing is impressive. I have a copy of 3rd planit I purchased 6 years ago. I worked with it for a while; decided the learning curve would take too long; and drew my plan the old fashioned way instead. I bet the software has improved by now.
Jim (cape) the steel mill thread was entitled "steel mill" (just to prove how original my thinking can be). It's in this forum. Here's a picture from the thread:
Those who asked, what's next?........... Just to the right of my coke oven, pictured in the thread, is presently just boards and track. Not far beyond that is benchwork only. Next it's just open space with no benchwork. ....so, I will be building in that direction towards the town of Heartland (existing now only in my imagination). It's a very slow process........
hey guys! I'm doing my best to raise money for the train show. and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad is looking to raise money for restorating some cars. I'm top so enjoy.
Colby
JR, I liked reading about your Amtrak ride from FLA to NYC. It brought back memories of an Amtrak trip I took from New Orleans to NYC back in the 80's. That northeast corridor was very industrial, especially around Baltimore and on was exactly like you described it, seems like it has not changed much since my trip over 20 years ago.
Hey, JR, what are you using for your backdrops?
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: GMTRacing wrote:Jeff - that's quite some roster you're building. Are you using a book to guide you on what power was used on the prototype for the era you're doing? Nosey people want to know.I don't model any particular era. I just do what I want. I've been known to lash up an 1860's wood burner with an SD40-2. Hey, it's on it way to a railfan trip someplace.
GMTRacing wrote:Jeff - that's quite some roster you're building. Are you using a book to guide you on what power was used on the prototype for the era you're doing? Nosey people want to know.
I don't model any particular era. I just do what I want. I've been known to lash up an 1860's wood burner with an SD40-2. Hey, it's on it way to a railfan trip someplace.
Jeff, nice KCS locos you acquired there on your LHS trip. BTW, I like that approach to era specification, or lack thereof. I like to model the 1970's era give or take 30 years.
Duke, nice to see that you were awake on Friday evening last week...
...just sorry I missed you again.
BTW, is Apex getting ready for the spring meet?
grayfox1119 wrote:RYAN: Haven't heard much from the hills of North Carolina lately, whatsup?
RYAN: Haven't heard much from the hills of North Carolina lately, whatsup?
Dick, thanks for asking! Work has been the "whatsup", I typically check the forums and such in between calls, but since filling in for a co-worker who has been out for the past 5 weeks my work load has increased. He is supposed to return on Monday. Wednesdays are a lighter day for some reason, so her I am, back in the saddle. Looking forward to making it into the Diner more often starting next week.
BTW, I hope all is well now with the water problem from last week!
Scott, happy belated birthday!
Nice signal tower pic Phillip! From the looks of it, it was cold too! Oh, and what a nice spread of pics from the CSX industry tracks!
Jim, I like that church as a modeling prototype!
Garry, thanks! 3rd PlanIt is a great CAD tool, it took me some time, but having used it for about 4 years now I am starting to master more of its abilities every day. I might just have to write a tutorial on what I have learned from using it in my layout plans.
And your steel mill photo looks very much like one I saw displayed at the Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Club Train Show back in October 2006. Very well done!
SilverSpike wrote: Nice signal tower pic Phillip! From the looks of it, it was cold too!
Nice signal tower pic Phillip! From the looks of it, it was cold too!
It was! I didn't even get out of the car for that pic. Shot it right througn the front window!
Oh, and what a nice spread of pics from the CSX industry tracks!
Been trying to catch the local there for a while, but I kept missing it. Glad I had the camera handy that day!
Evening Gang: I'm early tonight. I finished the rail joiners today now all I have to do is drill some holes in the ends of the 1st, middle, and last tie so we can nail them down. That way they won't slide around while we,re running. Son John is coming over tomorrow around noon to help finnish up and load the track sections, then go over to the track and pick up my locomotive and cars. I think that we are going to load up another loco for one of the guys and haul it out also. The show is this weekend.
Well Daisy the Dog is waiting to go out so I'd better take her out. I'll see you all tomorrow.
Good Evening, Chloe - a cup of hot cocoa, please. Just a short stop in here for the evening.
Garry, thanks for the info on your steel mill forum - the pic you posted looks great! Sorry to hear about your family's bad news - we'll be keeping you in our prayers .
Cox 47 wrote:Jim....I always liked those Athearn 34 foot hoppers I had about 40 of them on the last HO layout I built but back then they were just 1.98 and some of the discouters would sell them 10 for 15.00...I like the Church lets us know how the build goes..are you going to scratch windows or use something over the counter?
grayfox1119 wrote:CAPE JIM: What are you wiring at this time, extension of power buss or track feeders?
03-08-07
I'll have a regular coffee and a donut please Zoe. Bitter cold and breezy here this morning - hard to believe this weekend is the "spring ahead" Sunday with the clocks.
Ryan - Glad the deal with Monique is minor - can't be too careful of course, but we seem to have more than enough issues with our diner clientel and their loved ones already. to answer your question, I've used a combination of Faller and Walthers backdrops in places, but the big nice looking backdrop for the upper level is from Backdrop Warehouse. You need to be careful how you order it so that you keep the perspective you want, if I'd had my druthers I'd have made it just a little further away (smaller) so I didn't need to be so careful about the transition between foreground and backdrop. The scene itself is of mountains in Virginia (I think - or was that Tennesee) and looks like typical New England summer foliage to me - maybe not enough rocks LOL. I also have a 24" wide two level swing gate on the entrance to the layout on curved track no less and can give you some pointers and shots of that if you want. I have minor trouble with track alignment between seasons, but geting a dehumidifier for the train room cured 90% of that. The big thing is bracing and repeatability as it's opened and closed.
All for now, time to go make trailer ramp parts. Hope you all have a goodun' as Inch says. CUL, J.R.