Good Evening All,
Just back from the museum and putting stuff away before getting some sleep time. Worked again on the iNpossible gauge. I recleaned part of the track and put the two running locos and their consists back on the tracks. Apparently the RDC wiped out in the week since I put it on so the RS Alco is back on duty along with the DL-109 which is in passenger service. Every Tues I put the stuff back up and run it for the evening and every Tues i come back in and find a major wreck on my hands. Beginning to think some bright spark is shaking the table or something because I can't get the stuff to do the same thing while the work crew is there. Oh well I'll just keep after it until it stays put.
Sott - glad the interview went well - good luck tomorrow.
Der - so the reverse loop on remote works ok? Mine are automated because I could never remember to throw the switches properly on the old layout. That's the other reason I,m considering using stationary decoders at least on the mainlines.
Time to get some sleep - long day tomorrow so - CUL, J.R.
A couple chocolate chip cookies and some decaf please. Awe heck, make it a plate full...I have a sweet tooth tonight.
Not much to report. Did the same thing as Paul, this evening I bushhogged the back pasture. Wife did the middle pasture yesterday so all that is left is the front and around the pond.
Will begin making new shoes for Tinytoons (mini dwarf horse) tomorrow. So, while I have the grinder set up, will finish the remaining bit of frame removal from the bashed (N) Trix 0-6-0 which is becoming a 2-6-4 Camelback. Been sitting unfinished for some time now...really need to finish that project and move on. BTW, believe it or not, I actually got one of the two old LIMA camelbacks to run in both directions. I didn't know they could ever run, so will leave that one in the box.
Rob
Evening Gang: Not much going on here. I spent the day mowing the weeds in one of the pastures. I will maybe get it finished tomorrow. I'm using a 5 ft. brush mower and it takes time. I've been looking at 7ft and 8 ft models but they get expensive. $2200 and $4000 respectively. I don't know if the extra $1800 is worth it for the extra foot. Another problem is having to go around the Mesquite bushes. They have very long and sharp thorns that will go through a tire like a hot knife through butter. I have to remove them by cutting them by hand and poisoning the stumps. If I would have keep things mowed they would have died out. From now on I'll mow regular when they show up. Now that I'm retarded I can keep on top of it.
Dick you are going to have fun with that air brush. They are great to work with. I've been working with Pashaa brushes at work and at home for 40 years. You will have no problem learning. Much easier then a computer.
Scott: I'm happy to hear that your Amtrack interview went well. Good luck with NS on Thursday.
Der that's a nice model of the Mesquito. Did you do it? When I changed colors at work I'd just run some thinner or cleaner through the brush and switch bottles or pour the next color in the cup. I never had a problem. I did clean out the brush at the end of a session or when going on break. I also have a bunch of brushes so I could keep different colors and tip sizes at hand. Now of course I've got them all for modeling. He He
Tomorrow it will be back to the pasture. I'll get the mowing done and maybe start on getting rid of the Mesquite.
Good Night All
Good evening Diners! Hot (for here) and muggy, not a breath of air worth anything, nothing stiring through the open windows. That storm isn't doing anything to or for us yet Dick, but it will impact Newfoundland tomorrow.
Paul:
Ryan the aircraft that I mentioned is a De Haveland Mesquito. It was a twin engine fighter bomber powered by 2 Rolls Royce Merlin engines and built of plywood. The aircraft was so fast that the German's Me 109 was not able to catch it. The Mesquito was used extensively for photo recon work because of it's speed. Today there is one aircraft being restored.
Garry:
Der returned to the diner I see. Der, we have a Michigan daughter who left for Nova Scotia today for a week there. Shelley and I still would like to return some day.
Scott: What did Amtrak say about the travel time? Good luck on Thursday, as it’s what you would really prefer.
JR:
Has anyone used the stationary decoders to run the turnouts? looks like having all of that in the controller instead of twenty to thirty switches around the layout might be the way to go.
Dick: Good luck with the airbrush, and with the cleaner-between-colours idea. I don’t think I’d trust that myself.
Time for bed, earlier start tomorrow. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Good evening to all.... it was HOT up in the garden under that strong sun this afternoon, I downed two Gatoraids before Fergie's 2-10-2 could make one pass around his layout.
Now I will have what Scott is having, I love Mango Ice Tea, great stuff, the 99 restaurant sells it around here in the summer months, that is my regular drink when I go there. Thanks for supper Scotty !!!
SCOTT: Good news Scott!! I hope all goes as well tomorrow, were're all pulling for you buddy.
JEFF: Seeing that I plan to do a lot of airbrushing, I decided to bite the bullet and get the model A470. It has the ability to switch between Single action or Double action, External mix, do not need to take apart to clean the gun when changing colors, just place the pickup tube in the cleaner solution and run it through until clear. I plan on having it a long time, so I opted for this model. Three years of art classes is far more than anything I have ever experienced, but I like to try new things, so here we go!!!! LOL Glad to see you got your PS installed and with no other parts blown by the Capacitor "explosion". And, that was real nice of the parts dealer to let you install and pay when the SS check arrives.
Good news! I got my computer up and running and it's acting like it's normal self. I just put a brand new 550W power supply in it today. I have to go back to the computer shop tomorrow to pay for it.
Grayfox: That's good news on finding an Aztec airbrush. Is it a single action or double action? Internal or external mix? I've never considered myself a Michaelangelo. I just have three years of art classes to draw on. Art? Draw? Get it?
Since Scott's buying, I'll have the pineapple bbq chicken.
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
Hey y'all!
The Amtrak interview went smoothly. I'm feelin' good about it. Now we'll see about the Norfolk Southern session on Thursday...'
PICTURES FOR EVERYONE!
I took about 51 photos at Union Station and a few from the Capital Building while in Washington DC. I narrowed it down to about 18 of the better ones. If y'all are interested, here is the link to my Photobucket album where you can see them.
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/TrainFreak409/Railfanning%20-%20Union%20Station/
So I think I'm gonna chill out for a bit with a nice mango iced tea.
And it looks like I'm buying this one, so drink up y'all!
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
Ahhhh noontime whistle from the 4-8-4 on track #3 outside the Diner. Too hot to eat anything big, I'll just have a Chicken Caesar Salad, and a rootbeer float.
Just finished most of the rototilling, that should keep the weeds under control in the gardens, maybe have to do this one more time this season. Manit is hot out there in the full sun, 82F, 47% RH and DP of 60F, not too bad for air quality, but still sweat like an overworked Mule.
Ordered an Aztek airbrush kit and a small compressor from Micro-Tool in NJ today, it comes with a video and instruction book, so this might help me become a Michaelangelo like Jeff.
RYAN: Congratulations on your PROMOTION !!!!!!!!!! Are you now the lead IT person? If so, I have a technical question for you . Are you familiar with the operation of SMTP mail servers at all ?
HOOPLE: Have you not been paying attention to Jeff, PC Dave and I when we give in- depth weather reports??? Summertime in the Gulf states is HOT and HUMID. All Northerners stay NORTH in the hot summer, why to you think OJ ED comes from Mexico and visits his relatives in NFLD, Canada in Summer? Does he go there in Winter when it is Cold and buried in ice and snow? Nooooooooo, he goes there when it is ideal, July. Northerners go to Disneyland in Nov through April, and even April is pushing it.
Time to get back to work, see you guys for supper..
SilverSpike wrote: ......celebrate my promotion......
......celebrate my promotion......
Mornin... I'm back from the trip to hell... 'scuze my french.
I learned that Florida+Summer=BAD. It rains cats and dogs, (Worse than here!)and when the sun is out... it's hot. Thats why I got heat exhuastion and felt like junk for 3 days at the end of the trip. At least I got to see the behind the steam trains tour in disney world... One of the few good things. Now I'm glad to be back!
Mark
Hello...
I should have mentioned I visited several booths at the show. i shook hands with some MR editors.
The Intermountain booth had their new SP cab forward operating. It's impressive! Beats the pants off my 30 year old Rvarossi cab forward. I suggested to the man that Intermountain's next articulated should be an NP Challenger. He was receptive to the idea. Our resident NP fans will be gald to know that.
Ryan........ congrats on the promotion. Suggest you use some of the extra pay to buy a stomach pump if you plan to eat at the same Mexucan restaurant regularly.
Happy Model Railroading.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
grayfox1119 wrote: JEFF: I was going to send you $$ to get your PS early, but the bank got robbed today at the optometrist..LOL. I did get to Wal-Mart this afternoon, hunted high and low for the Aztek airbrush kit to no avail. I hit the craft dept, the paint dept, the auto dept...no dice. I went online and I see that Testors owns Aztek, so there are several online outfits that carry Aztek kits, so I guess that is the root that I will take, Mico-Mark carries them, and a hobby shop in Sprinfield, Ma carries Aztek airbrush kits also, but they are about an hours drive west of here, so online will be cheaper considering no sales tax.
JEFF: I was going to send you $$ to get your PS early, but the bank got robbed today at the optometrist..LOL. I did get to Wal-Mart this afternoon, hunted high and low for the Aztek airbrush kit to no avail. I hit the craft dept, the paint dept, the auto dept...no dice. I went online and I see that Testors owns Aztek, so there are several online outfits that carry Aztek kits, so I guess that is the root that I will take, Mico-Mark carries them, and a hobby shop in Sprinfield, Ma carries Aztek airbrush kits also, but they are about an hours drive west of here, so online will be cheaper considering no sales tax.
Good morning .......how is everyone this morning.......we awoke to clear skies, lowering humidity and dew points headed down out of the tropics zone, nice clear air for a while. So today I have to till the garden and do some weeding. If you don't do that this time of the year, gardens go nuts with weeds, as their clocks tell them the sun is headed south again, so grow and produce seed pods.
NOVA SCOTIA TEAM: ALERT!!!!!! A named tropical storm has just formed off Cape Cod and is headed off the east coast of Nova Scotia. Waves are expected to reach 20 to 25 feet !!!!! Good thing Fergie is not out to sea this week!!!!!! John, better pull in your wharf at Sheet Harbour.
J.R. : Glad you enjoyed the photos, I have more shots of the steamer which I will post soon.
Has anyone heard from MIKE???
JEFF: No luck finding the airbrush at stores like Wal-Mart. Micro-Tool and a few other online companies have them, but it seems they have the model 470 which has the ability to select either single action or double action. Of course it also costs more. Any thoughts?
Time to get outside and get going, see you guys at lunch,
Morning folks!
I'll have some of that fresh coffee Zoë! Thanks for the Xtra large cup too!
We went out to the local Mexican restaurant Las Margaritas to celebrate my promotion and my stomach paid for it last night. Oh boy...Chiles Rellenos were great! Remember that Alka Seltzer commercial...."I can't believe I ate that whole thing."
Scott good luck with the interviews today! Your Steasel project sounds interesting.
Duke Thanks! And now that I have the full explanation from Paul, I remember building one of those Mosquito in miniature kit form years ago. The video is great, looks like the loco was clipping along fairly fast rate too! I bet it brought a chill down your spine and raised the hair on your next being that close to the live action! Or just plain exciting!
Paul thanks for the Mesquito descrip!
Ed I appreciate the crop report! Fall OJ futures just jumped up 5 points! Another trip? You and Fran spend more time away from home that at home now! Have a great trip, and we expect a full rail fan report upon your return!
Garry glad to hear you had a great trip!
Sue, your cattle pins are really shaping up nicely! Are you going to stain or paint them?
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
Good Morning All,
A regular and a donut please Zoe. I see I'm still paying from yesterday but thanks for going easy on me. Not much to report ATT with painting of the DPM buildings ongoing and some progress on the switching part of the home layout. Still haven't decided what I'll do with the switching motors - manual or electric. I still admire what Fergie did on his, but with turnouts on three levels the only practical thing is going to be all electric i fear. I have the upper level and incline/raised area all wired and set up, but the switching area is still to be done. Has anyone used the stationary decoders to run the turnouts? looks like having all of that in the controller instead of twenty to thirty switches around the layout might be the way to go.
Good to see Ed and Der back - good job you don't need to water the orange grove daily Ed - you'd never get any trips in.
Loved the pics of the stockyard and the cog railway from Sue and Dick. I still have my little Tyco stock pen all painted up and languishing in a box somewhere. Not much use on an urban layout unless I do a stockyard and then it's too small. Scott - hope the interviews go ok. With your people skills from the salesman gigs, Amtrak passenger service may be calling your name. If not NS has a pretty good rep with the RR guys around here.
Gotta go w..k beckons. CUL,J.R.
Excellent, I made it in for fresh coffee and donuts!
I'll be off to Washington DC here in a bit to go for my Amtrak Interview. I'm taking the train down and then will be doing a little railfanning at Union Station. Double the pleasure, double the fun!
I'll see y'all sometime this afternoon or evening!
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN
07-31-07
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Ryan,
Your videos are great, too. It always amazes me when I see those smooth sweeping curves with cookie cutter style layouts. I keep forgetting to ask Larry which media tools that he uses. I know it is on his laptop in the truck, so I just can't look.
Garry, The moo sound chip is a good idea. We got the sawmill chip for the old layout and have not had it out on this one.
Well, its almost bed time.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
I just returned to Land-Between-the-Lakes region a couple of hours ago from Michigan and Ohio. Again, it was good to meet Duke at National Train Show. They did have food there but it's no match for the food here in the diner. Good thing I didn't get too mcuh at the show because the vehicle was full of other stuff to bring home. I purchased an Empire Builder car, a California Zephyr car, some decals, a neat book, some tools, and a bunch of other goodies.
I see lots of interesting stuff here. You people are a busy group. I liked Dick's pix of New Hampshire steam. I beleive the tilted boiler on the cog engine keeps the boiler tubes close to level as well as keeping coal off the fireman as Dick said.
I really like the Gear Jammer stock yards, Sue. I can already hear the moos. BTW, I'm getting stick yard sound effects (electronic) complete with "moos" soon for the stock yards at my meat packing plant.
Der retruned to the diner I see. Der, we have a Michigan daughter who left for Nova Scotia today for a week there. Shelley and I still woul like to return some day.
Good noght!
Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,
Short weather report from down here in Paradise, hot and humid. So what else is new.
As predicted, we did get out to the orange grove yesterday. Generally it's in pretty good shape. The guy we have doing most of the work on it does a nice job. But it's been a drier than normal summer so far, and we'll need some rain soon for the fruit to develop properly. Looks to be a decent year, but nothing great. Most of the Monicas (our most numerous orange variety) appear to be taking the year off, so that will be a big hit to total production. But the Mandarins, the Queens (our second most numerous variety) and the juice oranges look like they will have decent production.
We're still a few months away from starting to pick oranges, but we did come home yesterday with some limes, avocados, papayas, and bananas (two different varieties), enough to fill the back of the Blazer. I'm already enjoying some of the bananas in a cream pie that Fran made, and I enjoyed some of the papaya this morning.
One more day here at home, and we'll be busy packing. We head back on the road Wednesday morning. This time it will be a relatively short (9 day) trip, mainly to attend what passes for the annual national railfan and model railroad convention down here. It wouldn't hold a candle to a decent club show up north, but it's the only game in town. And the best opportunity to meet up with a bunch of my railfan buddies from down here. The convention is in the center of the country, in Aguascalientes, an old traditional rail center down here. After the convention we're heading to Zacatecas (a silver mining center) for a couple of days. Zacatecas is the second highest city in Mexico, at about 8,000 feet, and will take a bit of getting used to. But spending 3 days in Aguascalientes should help out, as it is at 6,000 feet itself. Both are considerably higher than we are here in Tuxpan (maybe 30 feet above sea level).
Hasta mañana,
Ed
Evening Gang:
I got the Walthers sale catalogue today and it had an add for the Hiawatha. I guess I'll have to call them and get the full skinny on there speical deal. I've dug out my books on the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha and the depot in Milwaukee. Years ago friend of mine gave me drawings of the trackage and buildings at the depot. I've always had a desire to model it. My father used to take me down there to watch the trains and later I went down there with three friends to watch trains. I guess I'm going to get the stuff together and look for a space to build it. I'm sunk!
Dick those were great shots of the cog railway. Thanks.
Good evening to all, the results from the eye doctor was new long distance lenses for both the wife and I. Not enough of a change for the computer glasses though.
DUKE: Too bad you missed that ride on the COG RR, that is one h***** experience!!
RYAN: More pics to come, just feeding them in slowly.
Anyone heard from Mike lately? Is he at his camper in the woods with no internet connection or something?
COLBY: One word...."Politics"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIFN
Hi folks! 12 pages behind, so not much chance of catching up. Glad to see Scott and krump have dropped in again. back guys.
Finally started on a house maintneance project that I've known has needed doing for some years now. Now I've got into it, there is of course more to it than I have at first thought. I'ts coming along in the early going, but he weather isn't helping too much, except that it isn't a problem keeping the concrete that's involved from drying out! (I'm doing micro-pours patching a 1950's foundation somewhat the worse for entropy.)
Also, haven't been able to get up to our daughter's place to fix the post for the balcony. This week looks better, and I did get some materials prepared ahead of time on that one.
Fergie: Is the Coast Guard Research vessel you are on the Hudson? I'm asking because of the ATV news item this evening showing some of the deep water corals and scallops that were discovered on the last trip.
Have been waiting all day to hear from a family from Alberta (I know the dad) who are touring the Maritimes and were supposed to come down to Sheet Harbour from Cape Breton today. We waited supper as long as we could, and then fixed somethignfor ourselves. If they come tomorrow, we'll do the dinner then, but it would be good to hear something soon.
July's MR was supposed to come into our library from Dartmouth over a week ago. Still nothing., and we know it's just sitting on the shelves, according to the computer.
No mrr for ages. The blue desert project has ground to a halt, but not abandoned.
Got to go. TTFN.
***Duke, that video clip is cool. And that wonderful sound put a big grin on my face. Loved it!
A nice lemonade would do here near the end of the w..k day. Came in early to beat the rain which never showed up.
Colby - It's always something isn' it? Politics and business have always been a lousy mix. It sounds to me like you do a lot better raising money than we do here, but 65k a year is still alot of moolah. Your board should be looking first to the city for a block grant to either pay the rent as a stop gap, or build a proper museum (perhaps at the station as one of the people suggested in the newspaper links). The other thing is to fund raise from local businesses especially those connected to the tourist trade. It would help if you have a signed guest book or some way of showing how many people you attract every year as that represents income for the city as well as yourselves.
As to operating expenses - we were given the restored original station gratis after the city got a state grant for the cost of the restoration (over 1 mil in 1993 dollars). We pay about dollar a year rent for the station and a similar amount to ConnDot for our yard. We do our own yard upkeep and are negotiating with the city on building maintinence costs and are responsible for our heat and electricity. In addition our lease spells out our responsibilities as far as running a museum there goes.
Well I just wanted to pop in and say hi - the puter wouldn't let me in the door this morning at all and Chloe I swear the check for my tab really is in the mail!!! Well back to iit and get ready to finish up and head home. CUL,J.R.
Afternoon all
Dick We almost went to the Cog Railroad when we were out your way but decided to go to the Conway instead.
Ryan Congrats on the new position. I am a little surprised that you don't know the type of Mesquito Paul is talking about but you are a little young and will understand when he tells you. It was good to meet Garry and he didn't get to see my riding partner as I didn't take the bike,not the best place to leave it while wandering around. Let's see,Apex,oh yeah I think that is somewhere near you,isn't it??
I got some pics of something yesterday that I hope everyone will think is interesting,but I still have to get them into the Photobucket before I can post them.
Ok,this is the last of the Berk and I hope it works and doesn't take too long for those on dial-up.
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view¤t=dfc24164.flv
That's about it
Best to all on sick call and those recovering
Talk to you later
Duke
"Don't take a wooden nickel,because it isn't worth a dime" by my Dad
"There are only 3 things you need out of life:A gentle grade,the wind in your face,and cinders in your hair.....But keep an eye on the water glass!" Jack Evans
Good afternoon y'all.
Welp, tomorrow is Big Day 1. I will be heading out of here to catch the 8:00am MARC train down to Washington DC for my Amtrak job interview. Thank you all for your best wishes.
I'm thinking that I may be starting another N scale project here...Project Steasel is awaiting a new chassis before it may proceed further...But I've got some diesel shells laying around and a pair of E8 chassis that are lookin' mighty tempting...It might be time for another SB Locomotives production...
Jim in CG: The NS interview is Thursday morning. And yes, the distance to NS is much more manageable. Plus, Baltimore is not as confusing as Washington DC. And I am not in the position to relocate closer to DC, so that may throw the job...But we will see.
Ryan: The recruiting session is up here in Baltimore, MD. However, if I'm hired, some of the conductor training takes place down in Atlanta. If I get the job with 'em, feel free to ask me whatever questions come to mind. Hopefully I'll be of some help.
Hopefully I'll be on before hitting the hay...I need to get in bed early so that I can function tomorrow morning.
I'll see y'all later.
Good afternoon folks!
I've got some good news! I have been offered a new position within the same team for web development and I will be learning Cold Fusion markup language. I will be back filling a position that was vacated last month, so now we are looking for fill my position. Until they find my replacement I will be doing both jobs, I also will be getting more $$$ too! Yea!
Nice to see so many of the regulars back in the Diner!
Scott, congratulations on the job hunt with NS! Is the recruiting session taking place in Atlanta, GA? I hope you get it too! I will be picking your brain more and more since I model the NS in the Piedmont Division.
Sue, your videos are great! What media tools do you use for adding the opening text and the sepia patina views? And your cattle pins are looking sharp, I like that magnetic jig, I have one too!! You have put yours to great use I see!
Dick, been keeping busy with the RR stuff I see! And are you hands purple yet? All those blueberries might need to start making shipments to the Diner too! Steaming Tender Restaurant sounds like a fun place to hang out! The photo works for me, and looks great, no PhotoShop needed eh, that's the real McCoy! I love that cloud covered photo, great stuff!
Jeff, you always know where to find the great deals! Thanks once again! And good luck with the PS for the PC.
Jim, your desserts are getting better all the time! Thanks for the remarks on the layout The benchwork for the lower deck is completed, I just have to put down about 16 feet of cork and track to complete the lower deck. I have not started on the upper deck yet, but the around the walls transition grade from the lower to upper deck is about 90% done.
Duke, I like those plaques on the smoke box. Sounds like the train show was a lot fun too, and getting to meet Garry and all. Apex, did someone say Apex!
Rob that is one unique cloud photo! Reminds me of the Ghostbusters movies.
Paul, sounds like an active day with the live steam. So, what is a flying Mesquitos?
Garry, sounds like fun and with meeting Duke too! Did he show you his mascot (riding pardner)?
pcarrell wrote: I feel like this weekend was just a whirlwind! Seems like it went from Friday straight to Monday! Ever feel like that? I hate that!
I feel like this weekend was just a whirlwind! Seems like it went from Friday straight to Monday! Ever feel like that? I hate that!
PC, Yep! Every Monday morning I feel that way! Sorry about the PC problems, but glad you got them fixed.
Jerry, that DPM Roadkill café looks like a nice kit. Let us know how it comes out!
Catch you all later,