Depot Diner & Coffee Shop

[Mookie]

clarification - M1000 is what they call them on the police radio. I have no clue what an M-80 looks like - but I know it rattles windows.

Tree - another reason not to go near/on the water! I drink small amounts of water infrequently, just for that reason! No drowning here!

Dry...

[tree68]

Enjoyed the fireworks over the St Lawrence River last night - fired off from an island on which is located a replica of a Rhineland castle. Very picturesque!

Did so from the deck of a local fireboat - nice part about having lots of friends in the business. We had a front row seat!

The trip back to the dock after the event involved dodging some of the hundreds of boats also out to see the fireworks - less than last year because it was a Monday night, but a crowd nonetheless. The trip turned out to be quite eventful, though.

Not far from "home" the boat captain noticed a boat "not where it should be." Being a fireboat, we investigated and found 10 people on a big twin inboard which was taking on water. Rapidly.

We got them onto our boat and started dewatering, as well as our pump would do, while we waited for the Coast Guard to arrive. A Department of Environmental Conservation marine patrol (there was a lot of law enforcement on the river last night) took most of the boat's occupants ashore while we worked with the CG to keep the boat afloat long enough to escort it to a marina. It took two pumps to keep up with the water coming in - they holed the hull pretty well.

Once the boat was out of the water we could see the extent of the damage. They had hit a shoal and driven the propeller shaft hardware up through the bottom of the boat. If you're familiar with inboards, you can imagine what it looked like.

Had we not spotted them it would have turned into a rescue (more than it was) as I'm sure within 10 to 15 minutes the boat would have sunk. This was at around 11pm, remember, and there's not a lot of traffic on the river by then even with the holiday. Besides, they were out of the main channel, and being a holiday weekend, a passing boater might have assumed that all the waving was just revelry, unless, of course, it was by then obvious that the boat was sinking...

I really have to credit the Coast Guard - by and large they are young, but they worked they butts off keeping that boat afloat. They obviously love what they do.

Of course, our fireboat crew didn't do a bad job, especially considering that said crew consisted of the captain (and chief of their fire department), a relatively inexperienced member of the same fire department, a paramedic who had almost no boat experience, and moi, who does know that starboard is the right side of the pointy end of the boat... The captain had enough to worry about from the nautical side, answering our questions about where to find stuff, and working with the CG - the rest of us had to handle all the other stuff that had to be done, which we did quiet well, thank you. Not bad for a thrown-together team.

So a nice quiet 4th turned into a late night. I'll take that ice cream sandwich now.

[JoeKoh]

welcome back mookie.we had our own version of fireworks shows out here in the country.matt and I watched and ate popcorn.
stay safe
Joe

[CopCarSS]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie
Just because we celebrated WW3 last night in our neighborhood - and we are supposed to be a no noise fireworks city and I looked for potholes in the street this morning due to M1000's going off....

So if an M250 is a 1/4 stick of dynamite, does that mean your neighbors were celebrating with full sticks of dynamite, Mook? And I heard that Nebraska was a quiet kind of place! [:p]

So I ventured down to Canon City for the weekend, and had a great time. It's been awhile since I've been there. I rode the Canon City and Royal Gorge route train. A really neat trip as always, but they did shake up the operations a bit. They used to run two F-7s back to back for power. Near the Rock and Rail Railroad (reporting marks RRRR...kind of remind me of a[oX)]) they would run around the train for the return trip. On this trip they had an F-7 MUed to an SD-9 for the uphill pull, and a single F-7 on the other end for the downhill run. It wasn't quite as aesthetically pleasing. Still a great ride though.

Also managed to try out the World's Scariest Skycoaster." A skycoaster is a deal sort of like bungee jumping, but not really. One is placed in a sling, and hoisted up around 50 feet or so. Unlike bungee jumping, the fall is in an arc, and so its a bit more like flying. What was great about this ride (as opposed to the Skycoaster I did at Six Flags Great America in Chicago) is that at the apex of the arc, one is over the Royal Gorge with nothing in front of oneself (the suspension is on your back). It's about as close to truly flying as I'll ever get...and what a view!

Next trip down there I do have another plan for some fun in the canyon. There's an ex-Viet Nam Helicopter Pilot running tours through the Gorge now. I saw him several times during the day, and all I can say is WOW! He goes low and fast through the canyon. Some of the banks and such that he did were out of this world. Of course, its probably a walk in the park for a Nam pilot, but it sure looks like a lot of fun to me!

Anyways, hope you all had a great holiday. I'll get some pics up hopefully today on the lunch break.

TTFN!

[locomutt]

Welcome back,CRABBY!!!!![:D]

In spite what you have already posted,I do hope you had a semi-enjoyable
holiday weekend. Hope "Millie" didn't find too many of those 'potholes'
this morning!!

[Mookie]

CRABBY KITTY????? What do you mean CRABBY!!!!!

Just because we celebrated WW3 last night in our neighborhood - and we are supposed to be a no noise fireworks city and I looked for potholes in the street this morning due to M1000's going off....

Whose CRABBY!

Morning all - I'm back.... [:X]

[cherokee woman]

Now Joe, you KNOW we've always got milk here!!

Good morning everyone!! Getting ready to go for produce.

Breakfast muffins are out on the warmer, staying warm for you all.

See you all in a bit.

[JoeKoh]

Strawberry shortcake after all we had for supper?sure why not.got milk?
stay safe
Joe

[cherokee woman]

[#welcome] to the Depot Diner and Coffee Shop, Bobby. Always glad
to have new people drop into the Diner! Hope you enjoyed the cookout
here at the Diner tonight. Did you take a look at all the neat model
layouts in the Coffee Shop?! The guys here take a whole lot of pride
in them, as they should.

How about a nice strawberry shortcake?!?!?!

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bobby K-9 RR Police

Any one needs any ? answered on the old Conrail here in the NorthEast I was Conrail Police for 10 yrs till the CSX Merger then they got rid of 15 Special Agents going up to 26 Yrs on the job.

Bobby, [#welcome] to both the Forums and the Diner.
Hope you will enjoy it here. Looking forward to hearing more from you,
the voice of experience is always welcome around here.

[JoeKoh]

Bobby
welcome to the forums.no questions yet but we do have some cool water for your dog.just watch out for ms. mookie.she can be a crabby kitty sometimes.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Any one needs any ? answered on the old Conrail here in the NorthEast I was Conrail Police for 10 yrs till the CSX Merger then they got rid of 15 Special Agents going up to 26 Yrs on the job.

[railfan619]

That sounds very good save me a couple of hot dogs for tommorow. Have a good 4th and hope you all get to see some fireworks tonight and remember to stay safe.[4:-)]

[cherokee woman]

Getting the grill ready for the hamburgers and hotdogs and corn on the
cob. Don't have any red white & blue cake for the 4th, but we will have
strawberry shortcake. Baked a yellow cake in a rectangle cake pan, so
we can cut up into squares, and add the strawberries and whipped cream.

[railfan619]

Yeah we had just some rain here to but for right now it is pretty nice out side. But more rain is on the way just as long it does not ruin the firework display tonight. By the way who wants some thing from summerfest.[:D][4:-)]

[CShaveRR]

Your rain is apparently headed our way. It appears that I'll have to drive to work (and of course I'll need to stop and put gas in the tank!). Keep your powder dry, everyone!

[blhanel]

Boy, I sure am getting hungry reading this page. Wish it would stop raining here so I can grill something. My wife and I will be venturing into downtown Cedar Rapids tonight to watch their big fireworks display. A new twist this year- some will be shot off of the top of a building along with the usual main display from a barge in the river.[8D]

[railfan619]

Good morning everyone hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th.

[cherokee woman]

Also on the 4th of July menu today:

hamburgers and potato salad. Will also have french fries for Matt.

I think Mutt's red, white and blue doughnuts and Mama's muffins will
be enough for breakfast this morning. We'll all save room for the hotdogs,
hamburgers and french fries. But we'll also have plenty of potato chips!!

[JoeKoh]

Morning.I'll get some juice around.mamma made some muffins to go with breakfast.matt wants to go see the fireworks with G+G tonight.
stay safe
Joe

[doghouse]

Sousa, hot dogs, cookies, donuts, fireworks. As American as it gets.

[locomutt]

Carl,you've got your hotdogs,but let me put out the breakfast buffet first.
In addition to normal fare around here,I've got some Red,White & Blue doughnuts
for everyone. And your description of the fireworks sounds great,and sounds
like a very nice veiwing place.Neither of us like to 'mingle' with about 100,000
other people to not see much of anything.

CW will be in later with some other things for today.

[CShaveRR]

Chicago's big celebration was this past night. Yes, the fireworks were heralded by the 1812 Overture (abridged 'way too much!)--a piece written by a Russian composer, celebrating a victory over the French, conducted by an Irish director to celebrate American independence. As my Gurl Sarah would say, "Go figure!"

I was at work--roughly 15 miles away from the lakefront, and from my angle, the fireworks often silhouetted Sears Tower. Some of those bursts were about half the height of the building or better--we're talking at least 800 feet in diameter!

I'll be working again today (it's now the Fourth), and expect that the communities around the yard will be firing their works. I hope the stacks of containers don't hide too much.

Hot dogs today? Please?

[Modelcar]

....Locomutt.....I am another one that still has a turntable...but it's not been in use for about 4 years now...When I last purchased a new reciever at that time I removed it from service as about the same time I purchased a new CD player, etc...that is incorperated into the TV / Stereo Surround sysem, etc....Since then I came upon a few dozen or so 45 rpm records including Ken Griffin music...{doubt many on here remember him and his organ music}.....that I have never played yet....Should get the turntable out one of these days and maybe record those 45's over on tape...but I probably won't get around to doing that.

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

here are some cookies and lemonade.gotta have some John phillip Sousa on the 4rth.
stay safe
Joe

Thanks for the cookies and lemonade Joe,but don't forget to stand
up and salute when you play the "John Phillips Sousa" music!!

[JoeKoh]

here are some cookies and lemonade.gotta have some John phillip Sousa on the 4rth.
stay safe
Joe

[CSXrules4eva]

Yes Jay the concert does sound pretty darn interesting, I wish I was going lol. I wouldn't mind listing to the Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture right about now. Ya know what I think I'll put that on right now, the one cd I have is done by the Philharmonia Orchestra. See look what you guys did made me take off Dvorak for Tchaikovsky, that's a sin for me because Dvorak is my favorite composer.

[locomutt]

Hmmm,M & Ms for the Diner? sounds interesting! Hope some made it home,
or were they all scale size?!

Sarah,the music sounds good,I guess I'd better get the turntable ready,and put
on my LP of "2001;A Space Odyssey". Yes,we still have a usable turntable,and
an 8 track player in the house.
As far as movies go,I guess we'll watch "Independance Day" this evening.

Jay,The concert sounds very interesting,wish we could get the "1812 Overture
ourselves,one of my favorites. Guess we'll just settle for a "Capitol Fourth" on
PBS at eight (EDT) and the CBS one at 10:00(EDT)(tomorrow,the 4th)

[jeaton]

CW

Your'e right that ti's a little quiet here. We have been busy getting ready for a small gathering here tomorrow. The DD&CS regulars are probably doing the same or otherwise making good use of the long weekend. Tuesday will probably loaded with the tried and hungry.

The Army Field Band and Chorus has a gig with the Boston Pops tonight and tomorrow night. There is supposed to be a national telecast on CBS starting 10p.m. eastern time tomorrow night. (Check your local listings). According to the Pops web site, the 1812 Overture will only be shown on a local Boston Station. That is a neat piece, but Colonel Hamilton thinks it is a bit ironic that music from Russia is often featured on our Independence Day celebration.

My stepdaughter will take her discharge in October, but she is no longer touring as the baby is due near the end of this month. This is the first 4th of July she off work in seven years, and she and husband had to do some thinking about what to do with the day. But they are bright kids and should get it figured out.

Jay

[CSXrules4eva]

CW I think I will turn on the cd player, wait a min no I'm on the computer I can listen to some cds here. OK So I think I will put on Ottorino Respighi's Fountains of Rome, done by the London Symphony Orchestra. I'm here to get something to eat and drink, so what are you cooking up, Shrimp?// lol.

Unfortunitly I really don't have to many plans for the 4th of July. I was suposed to go with my mom to see War of the Worlds but, I was just informed by her that she isn't feeling too well, so I'm not sure if we're going. I saw it before and it was a darn good movie. It was a serious sci fi, it didn't have any comedy to it whatsoever. I can now see why the people in the 30s were scared of this when it was broadcased over the radio. Tomorrow on the 4th I'm suposed to go downtown (on the train) in Philly to Penn's Landing and watch the fireworks at around 9pm. Other than this I don't have anything to do nor do I have anyone to do something with. Oh Well.

Tonight I'm thinking about watching some patriotic movies like Force 10 From Naverone, and The Patriot. I think I need to watch some good old American Revolution war movies or some Civil War movies. Yes that will do it.