Trains.com

Flat Wheel Cafe/Diner, August 2009 Edition

16620 views
433 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:30 PM

Finally....an inch and a half of rain here this afternoon.....!  That's the most we've seen in perhaps over a month.  More on the way too as a red line of weather is working across Indiana right now.  Tornado warnings are over various locations as it progresses....and rather fast too.  Hopefully it will weaken a bit before we see it.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 4:56 PM

Csx and NS have little junction or signal spots up around here too.Anyone know where PerGo is?(hint its on the old wabash line west of montpelier) how about Rosedale?(between sherwood and hicksville on CSX.Cw thanks for supper.Time to get things around for work.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 3:56 PM

Apparently, It was dependent on who was there first. Many towns were there and the RR came to it. Most place names though, were dependent on the name of the landowner who contracted to have a depot ot stop on his property, and the town if any grew around it. Florence is one example. It was founded by the Wilmington Manchester and Augusta (I think) and was named for thr daughter of the company president. Other non incorporated place names still in use are Howe Springs, Coward, Sranton, Packsville, etc. Some are still in existence, others are just a memory but the name lives on

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:08 AM

tree68

Speaking of barn fires , this one may be laid to spontaneous combustion.

Boy that's a "glowing report"....!  Great photos of on site as it happened.

And it sure looks like the fire co.s were doing the best they could, but against the circumstances not much could be done to prevent the major destruction.

Quentin

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:52 AM

tree68

Quentin - I wonder if the railroad bisecting a town was more due to a station being built and the town growing up around it.  I know there were instances of a station being built "outside" of town, and the town migrated over to the station, leaving the original settlement a shadow of its former self.  But you're right - the railroad was the mode of travel of choice.

I suppose that is much the way it happened Larry....The RR first, the depot, and the town grew and to the point it grew on both sides of the track.

It seems to be so predominant down thru the south as I mentioned  above and one comes into the small settlements and half of the town is here and then the RR and then beyond that, more town....parallel streets to all of it.

I really enjoyed seeing those little settlements as we traveled quite a few times down thru that area.  It being mostly flat down in that area the RR stretched for miles upon end mostly straight and parallel with the route we travelled.

Quentin

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:35 AM

Speaking of barn fires , this one may be laid to spontaneous combustion.

And last night several fire department responded to a pile of large square bales on fire - apparently about 100 bales were involved.

Quentin - I wonder if the railroad bisecting a town was more due to a station being built and the town growing up around it.  I know there were instances of a station being built "outside" of town, and the town migrated over to the station, leaving the original settlement a shadow of its former self.  But you're right - the railroad was the mode of travel of choice.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:07 AM

Checking in....Just back from the barber shop....getting the latest on all what's happening around our little town.  Oh, a haircut too.

Overcast and mod. temps this morning....still dry.  Of course we're to have rain / thunderstorms possible sometime today {again}, as yesterday and still none.  Tomorrow too.  Hope when it finally does come it's not damaging.

Tom....As i mentioned yesterday of driving down thru a large section of your State on route 321....We really enjoyed that route down thru there, thru small towns and open country, a rather straight route, and much of the time CSX RR pretty close to the highway.  We could sail down thru that route without much to hold one up even though it was for the most part, a 2 lane road.  Of course meeting the timber trucks occasionally with the long stick logs hanging out over the end of the trailers.

I much preferred it to being over on I 95.  That route, we didn't like.  Danerous.  Our time on I 95 was kept to a minimum.  Just the short stretch across Georgia.

I liked how the RR bisected the little towns we'd pass thru with the old time depots right in the center of town showing they must have been the means of transport out of them years ago.

Quentin

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:47 AM

Paula, I was going to say something about Al's hammer, but I forgot what it was.

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:31 AM

tree68

cherokee woman
Good Thursday morning, everyone. 

Uh, CW...  Much as I'd like my work week to be over, my calendar only says Wednesday....

 

Larry, I wondered who it would be on here, that would notice I put the wrong day.  When Mutt told me that "I needed to correct my post from this morning", I asked him WHY.  He then told me I had put the wrong day down; I told him that I did it on purpose, to see if anyone actually reads my posts.WinkEvil  Acutally, it was a typo, I didn't realize I'd typed the wrong weekday.  Blush I don't think I'm actually getting Alzheimer's yet, just maybe taking after my mother and sister, in the 'being forgetful' department.

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 7:07 AM

cherokee woman
Good Thursday morning, everyone. 

Uh, CW...  Much as I'd like my work week to be over, my calendar only says Wednesday....

Meanwhile, I'll be over in the corner with my tea and bearclaw.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:37 AM

morning

fog this morning, rain maybe tonight but tommorow as well say the weather guessers.Cw thanks for breakfast.going to take my nap.Will get out the mower this afternoon.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:31 AM

Good Thursday morning, everyone.  It's a very muggy 75 degrees right now, here in Louisville.  Going for a high of 84 today.  Supposed to be some rain heading in.  Guess we'll have to see how much we get.  Guess I'll go out in a few minutes and water the garden and flowers, just in case we don't get any of the rain in our area.

Coffee, juices, iced teas, lemonades, Gatorades and hot water for hot tea are ready.

On the breakfast bar this morning:  bagels, bear claws, oatmeal, toast, and blueberry mufffins.

If anyone has any requests for lunch/supper, please let me know.  Otherwise, I'll try to think of something.  You all have a good morning, keep as cool as possible, and take care.

 

 

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:24 PM

Johnny, I am about a mile west of the Coast Line double tracl, just south, maybe a mile, from Howe Springs. HTH

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:03 PM

grampaw pettibone
Times have sure changed in the schools, Johnny. Like I said, those with permission to drive to school were few and far between.

Permission? We didn't need permission; if a boy somehow was able to have his own car and the money for the gas, he could drive it to school. A small school (a total of 100 in grades 9-12 when I was a senior) had few rules and such. In general, we were governed by common decency.

Tom, you live west of the Coast Line? We drove through Florence on our way to Conway in April of last year, as we were touring some of the Low Country. Of course, that was before I discovered the pleasures of this site.

Johnny

Johnny

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 4:32 PM

Ok Tom....Have you pin pointed on the map.

In more recent years when we traveled to Florida for winter months, we did still pass down thru S C but arriving in Columbia on I 26, we then would head south on Fed. route 321 on down to near bottom of state, and then out on I 95 to Jacksonville and so on......

Quentin

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 4:18 PM

Quentin, I am about 200 yards from U S 301 and about 3 miles south of Florence. You shoulda waved and brought a pizza or something..... Times have sure changed in the schools, Johnny. Like I said, those with permission to drive to school were few and far between. Today, between 0730 and 0830, traffic can be backed up a mile or more at the school whilst the students try to get in or out. I found out the hard way to give meself an extra half hour when trying to get by in the morning or when they let out. I guess today they consider driving to school a right and not a priviledge. Also, school busses are on the road picking up or letting off from around 1000 all the way through 1800. Never have figured out the ryme or reason for that. Who goes home at 1000????????????

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:19 PM

Forty-five up here at Snowbird this morning; it's up to sixty-five now. According to the weather reports, it has been comfortable down in the valley--ten degrees warmer.

As to students' cars at school, even when I finished high school, fifty-five years ago, maybe one or two students drove to school. The rest either walked or rode school buses--the bus drivers, of course, drove to school.

When I was in college, boarding students were not to have cars on campus. Day students, of course, were allowed to drive their cars to the college. If one of my friends needed a car, he could walk over to the president's house and borrow his father's car. Another friend (also a boarding student)  would go over to his home (about a quarter of a mile away), and get his own car (I even borrowed his car once)..It's quite different there now.

Johnny

Johnny

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:15 PM

afternoon

well we helped our friend get out of a jam then we went to see Bryce. He is going to the fair for his birthday tonight.We did watch q 501 go by their house before they left.The rail train crew with the B&O caboose is still working in Defiance too.Next week csx will be replacing ties.Cw thanks for supper tonight.Time to get ready for work.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
Posted by bubbajustin on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 3:07 PM

Afternoon.

Well, I had a great first day of 8th grade today. I met all my teachers, and for the most part, they are all very nice with high expectations.

Johnny,

Dr. Crane, and his family, were like the Kennedy’s today. I have herd about the newspaper article. Also, You can call me Justin.Smile

CW, thanks for supper! Beef Stroganoff sounds delicious! Well, off to TRAINZ SIMULATOR!Thumbs Up Big Smile

Take care,

Justin

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:39 PM

Going off the regular Tuesday menu today.  Just don't feel like fixing all the Mexican Fiesta tacos, burritos, etc.,  (Too hot & muggy).  So today, we have:

Beef stroganoff, your choice of broccoli w/cheese sauce, or peas & carrots, and garden salad.

Desserts today:  Apple, cherry and peach cobblers, and strawberry dumplings.  

While I was over at Produce this morning, you looked for awhile that we were going to get some rain.  But the dark clouds just went on and we got nary a drop.  

With regards to students driving personal vehicles to school, we had quite a few where I went to high school.  My twin got to driver his senior year, because he was working part time for a local family owned pharmacy as their delivery driver.

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:25 PM

mudchicken

mmmm..Rocky Ford melons/ cantaloupes are now coming in from the fields in SE Colorado (diningcar and I will have to go get a case or two)...methinks CW is a bit too far east to see these...

 

You got that right, mudchicken; only problem is, you've also got my mouth watering.  Sounds like some gooooooood eating!  My last couple of times at the grocery, and at Produce this morning, no cantaloupes.  DagnabitSad

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:39 AM

When I was a senior, I got off two hours early. Rather than sit in study hall for that time, the folks lent me the family car, and later an old pickup. Getting authorization to drive it to school, tho, was like getting a budget through congress. Nowadays, there are more kids driving tha.\n there on the busses.

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:11 AM

mmmm..Rocky Ford melons/ cantaloupes are now coming in from the fields in SE Colorado (diningcar and I will have to go get a case or two)...methinks CW is a bit too far east to see these...

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:06 AM

6" of rain in northern Indiana overnight.....!!  That's surprising once again.  My rain gauge had a "trace" of water in it this morning....Humidity is top level here though this mornning and temp now is at 79 degrees. 

They still have us as possible rain sometime in the day and tomorrow and so on....But we basically are still very dry.

Tom....If you can see route 301 from your home....We've been right past you in previous years.  Perhaps several times.  That being one of the basic routes to Florida years ago before the onslaught of Interstates.

Students driving priviate cars to H S.....Hmmm.  Not many had access to family autos in my time to bring them to school...Drive, yes, but not available to bring to school on a daily routine.

 

Quentin

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:48 AM

More on student's cars: 

One of my daughter's professors and the Environmental Science Dept. Chairman - Ben Hayes, Ph.D., with lots of work at Colorado State, as I recall - during her senior year [1999-2000] at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, came there from a previous position at Bucknell University, which is just up the road [U.S. 15] a few miles at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Prof. Hayes used to say that while he was at Bucknell, whenever he wanted to shop for a new car, he'd just go down to and walk through the student parking lot, and ask them !

FWIW, I seem to recall from a Trains article - by Fred Frailey ? - a few years ago that  one of the sons of BNSF's then-Chairman and CEO, Rob Krebs, was a student at Bucknell at around that time. 

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:06 AM

Tom - When I was in HS, the kids with cars available was miniscule, much less the number that drove to school.  As you say, nowadays there are a lot of them driving.

Supposed to be a nice day today, with the threat of T-Storms from that slow moving cold front late in the day.

Then most of the rest of the week is suppose to be wet.

I'll be over in the corner booth with my tea and bearclaw, if anyone wants to commiserate.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:38 AM

Morning

good rain last night.Some say Northern Indiana(kendalville) got 6 inches of rain.Cw thanks for breakfast.Time for a nap.Later we are going to go see matts cousin bryce.He turns 3 today.Matt wants to make sure he knows how to eat chocolate cake.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Florence, SC
  • 1,614 posts
Posted by grampaw pettibone on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:35 AM

Hi and good morning. 74 and pea soup fog in Carolina this morning. It is so thick I can't see the neighbors house.... U S 301 is awfully quiet this morning .Not good for the to school crowd. We have a major high school a mile and a half north of us, and in the best of conditions, traffic is chaos. I am praying for no accidents in this mess.

When I look at the school parking lot, I remember how difficult it was in 1965 to get permission to drive a POV and not use the bus. You could count the POVs on one hand and still have fingers left. Now, the parking lot there has hundreds of POVs each day.

Nuff reminiscing, tines a wastin'. Everybody take care

Tom

COAST LINE FOREVER

It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman! (Solomon)

A contentious woman is like a constant dripping! (Solomon)

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • 9,002 posts
Posted by cherokee woman on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 5:36 AM

Good Tuesday morning, everyone.  It's a very muggy 75 degrees here in Louisville this morning, with the chance of t-showers/storms later on this afternoon.  Temps are to be in the upper 80s.

Coffee, juices, lemonade, Gatorade, iced teas, and hot water for tea are ready.

On the breakfast bar this morning:  cantaloupe, watermelon, toast, bagels, bear claws, and the boxes of cereal are on the counter.  

Today is Produce Tuesday, and I definitely don't expect too many people to show up this morning:  mainly because all the schools are back in session, and Moms/Grandmas have to stay at home to get the kiddos on the school bus, or take them to school.  

Everyone enjoy the 'cooler' breakfast, have a good morning, and all of you take care.   I'll see you all later, after I get through with Produce.

 

 

Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, August 17, 2009 10:09 PM

bubbajustin
Dr. Crane wrote this book.

Bubba, you named a man I had not thought of in fifty years or so. I saw Dr. Crane's  daily column (not that I read It) in our newspaper.

Johnny

Johnny

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy