Good morning Diners. A large coffee before I go to our Remembrance Day Service please, Chloe.
Edit. Top of the Page.
Chloe. Give everyone a drink of their choice and put it on my tab.
Newspaper Train
Final Scenes of the Comedy "Blackadder Goes Forth' - set in WW1.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning, everyone. Donut day, so just black coffee, please. I'll have a glass each of David's treat later.
For a Sunday, this will be a busy day. The layout seems to be on the back burner. I have a couple of layout things I want to work on before the entire family descends on the house in late December. One of these days, I've got to get started on those projects.
We're heading out the door. I will check in later and hope to hear how everyone is doing.
York1 John
Good Morning,
We got another 10 cm or about 5" of the white stuff again yesterday so about a foot in total. Doubt it will melt. Birds have been very busy fuelling up after the storm.
Garry, glad to hear you are headed in the right direction. Rest is good. As this is a virtual diner, Chloe will do a bedside delivery of coffee maybe with a shot of the stuff Dave has on offer.
Last night we had some smoked salmon with toast and cream cheese washed down with Prosecco. Sure was good but we won't be doing it again for a long time as the cost of smoked salmon has gone into the stratosphere.
I wonder if Ken will ever come back. I hope he and Dirk are ok.
Yesterday I re-progammed my SW9. It was too loud after the reset I did a while ago. I also packed up the rotary plow and will take it to sell on consignment at the LHS. It should sell fast as it is in CN livery. I guess I'm not much of a collector as I have sold off 11 locos and a fair bit of rolling stock over the past 10 years. That is just HO stuff. Most of the N guage is now gone.
Lunch time so I'll sign off,
CN Charlie
On Monday I turned in a for sale ad for the big, three point snow blower that I mount on my tractor. Friday the ad ran in our local bugle and I got a call later that night. Fellow was in Buffalo! I asked how he saw my ad 300 miles away. HIS dad called him from here and told him about the snowblower. He had been looking for one all summer!
They came and picked it up today (I used my old Millwright skills to load it up into his big dualie pickup and off they went! They were thrilled to get such a good deal on a nice machine and I was glad to pocket a little train money
Kioti_Snow by Edmund, on Flickr
Of course that made the snow gods unhappy so now we have about a 3" coat of wet mucky stuff.
NYC_War_Mohawk by Edmund, on Flickr
I hope everyone is doing well or is at least on the mend...
Cheers, Ed
So the white stuff flying is Ed's fault.... Got it.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824So the white stuff flying is Ed's fault.... Got it.
Wood stove is toasty, got a drink in my hand and a cat on my lap and no where to be tomorrow.
Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow
Warm & Fuzzy, Ed
York1Kevin, are you still enjoying your time at Home Depot? I'm afraid I would get tired of dealing with some people all day.
Absolutely!
First, the group I work with is made up of people that 100% want to give the customers a good experience, that makes it a whole bunch of easy.
Second, it is doing me a lot of unexpected good to be around young people. I work with some really sharp kids, and I like them all.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190First, the group I work with is made up of people that 100% want to give the customers a good experience, that makes it a whole bunch of easy.
When I worked at Home Depot Canada a few years ago I experienced the same thing. There were very few idiots among the staff. They were all great people.
As far as the customers were concerned, there was the occassional jerk who required a great deal of patience to deal with, but the vast majority were great. I really enjoyed the opportunities where I could teach customers how to get exactly what they wanted. On a few occassions I actually politely declined to place their orders until I was certain that they were ordering the right thing. I saved a few customers some real frustration because I convinced them to go home and remeasure their windows/doors using my suggested methods. In every case, they came back with corrected measurements and the windows/doors fit properly.
I had one memorable jerk who refused to explain how he had measured his window openings. Using a raised voice, he demanded that I just order the windows. When the windows were delivered they were all 3/4" too small and he was furious! I tried to explain to him that he had forced me to order the windows based on the standard procedure of using the rough opening dimensions, and the program automatically deducted 3/8" on all sides to allow for installation clearances. He demanded that I be fired on the spot. Instead of doing that, my very supportive management told him that I was not at fault and he was. The windows were his. No refunds. No allowances. Made my day!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Janie.
Ed. The Sno-mo Collision film is amazing. You would think the people standing would have got out of the way.
A Ministry of Information film from 1941.
Those missing from the Diner, a speedy recovery and return.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
NorthBritEd. The Sno-mo Collision film is amazing. You would think the people standing would have got out of the way.
Hi David,
I have to politely disagree. The people on the platform should have been warned of the danger. For the station staff to not do so was a complete dereliction of their duty to keep the passengers safe.
hon30critter Hi David, I have to politely disagree. The people on the platform should have been warned of the danger. For the station staff to not do so was a complete dereliction of their duty to keep the passengers safe. Dave
I stand corrected, Dave.
Here the rules are a little different.
Good Morning All. Janie, a cup of black coffee and a slice of coffee cake please.
hon30critterThe people on the platform should have been warned of the danger.
Finally got the trim around the new slider door painted yesterday. Good day to do it with the rain/snow mix coming down. Also got JMRI Decoder Pro running on an old computer this weekend. I've only played with a couple locomotives so far, but it seems to work well enough. Only thing is the built in throttle only seems half functional. I can control an engine's speed and direction, but none of the function controls work. Can't even click on the buttons for them in the decoder pro throttle. Not a deal breaker, but it would be handy to do everything from the computer when programming an engine instead of needing to use the throttle as well. I'll have to look at it some more.
Have a good day guys!
Mike
hon30critterI have to politely disagree. The people on the platform should have been warned of the danger. For the station staff to not do so was a complete dereliction of their duty to keep the passengers safe.
Water Level Route They might have been. Some folks just won't listen.
Even assuming there was a staff. Many of the intermediate Amtrak stations are only staffed by a stray cat or two.
I guess there should also be signs warning people not to climb over the fence to stand at the edge of a cliff to take a selfie (there are).
Many, not all, but many humans don't have the sense to protect themselves. I'm reminded of the lady in Denver standing on the track to take cell phone photos of the U.P. 8444. as it approached her at about 40 MPH. Sad but preventable.
Here's another one. There should have been a sign, or at least a horn warning?
https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/selfie-tragedy-12-7-2016.htm
Anyway, enough of that...
Good Monday morning, everyone!
Donut?
donuts by Edmund, on Flickr
gmpullmanGood Monday morning, everyone! Donut?
I'll take a donut! Thanks Ed.
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, Brunhilda.
Another busy day, and a meeting tonight. I really don't like the schedule I have been keeping lately. It's starting to feel like I didn't retire.
I wish I had some wartime train photos to share.
Hope everyone has a good day.
gmpullmanDonut?
hon30critterNorthBrit Ed. The Sno-mo Collision film is amazing. You would think the people standing would have got out of the way. Hi David, I have to politely disagree. The people on the platform should have been warned of the danger.
Hi David, I have to politely disagree. The people on the platform should have been warned of the danger.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Seen at Pennsylvania Station, New York:
USO_Penn-Station by Edmund, on Flickr
Loan your binoculars to the U.S. Navy! Drop them off at the U.S.O. booth near track 10 — I do seem to recall a story, maybe it was in the Smithsonian Magazine, of a person who finally got their binoculars returned, none the worse for wear, some fifty years after the War? I'll have to look that up. Over 20,000 pieces of optical gear had been loaned to the Navy during WWII.
Also, the distinctive Penn Station train destination boards at the upper right of the photo. No sign in this one at the moment but they are an iconic sight at the station.
Over at the other end of the line, at Chicago Union Station, a Corporal awaits his departure in good company:
Waiting-room_CUS by Edmund, on Flickr
He wears an ID badge with the acronym AAFTTS which I believe, is the Army Air Force Training Command center. I hope he made it home OK.
Good afternoon all.
Zoe - That left over tray of donut's looks good. Just leave them on the counter, and a big mug of hot cocoa to go with them please.
Water Level Route gmpullman Donut?
gmpullman Donut?
Go big or go home. I will take the whole tray full.... They are only virtual calories.
Don't worry Ed. They can go on my tab.
Weather - Actually got the Lake effect this time. Have a very slushy layer before another 5" and it's still falling. And here I am busy with other things instead of chasing the two local trains in the falling fluffies.
I was slightly concerned, as this morning, all the road traffic was very slow moving. Seems a group of truck drivers were taking it easy in our first major snow due to slick conditions, and other drivers were (mostly) following suit. There was a definite "disturbance in the force."
Layout room update - One wall left to prime, (counting that one) two left to paint, then baseboard on those two, and then the rebuilding of the layout can commense!
All the walls will be a very nice shade of blue, called Billow, and the baseboard and wood trim boards will be stained a similar shade of blue. (Yes, they do offer tintable wood stain now. Semi-transparent, much like a standard wood stain, so it tints and colors, but the wood grain still shows.)
Trains - I had mentioned a recent acquisition on another thread, anybody have tips to solder chip LED's? The included lighting circuit board uses chip/surface mount LED's, and both the headlight and ditchlight LED's have a bad solder joint from the factory. (Both are located on a PC board piece in the locomotive nose, and both have, when looking at it, a crack through the solder joint on the left side, with neither chip LED lighting.) So it's basically just redoing the joint on the board. Anyone with experience at this?
Use a small tip and low heat to melt it slow? Or just use the smallest tip, high heat, quick in and get out?
Hope all are well, best wishes to those not, and all enjoy the day!
NorthBritYou would think the people standing would have got out of the way.
It's a recognized mode of failure leading to accidents. Called the "I can't believe this is happening"
Athough late for Veterans Day, this is a great story. A friend of mine was a Navy doc who was emergently assigned to Guam because the physician of his specialty was critically ill.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Henry, what a great story!
York1 Henry, what a great story!
I liked it too!!! Today I did a full 5k over at the Fieldhouse - Indoor track in 49 minutes. I'm pretty sure they have made the track longer and it is now uphill both ways! But I thought that was pretty good, I did! Until I happened on a video of a lady who set the world record for the 100 yard dash for her age when she was over 100 years old. She is now 105 and now owns the world record for the 100 yard dash for 105 years of age or older!!! Frankly I'm not sure if I could beat her record myself at just under 75!
When my FiL turned 92 he told us, "if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Then he took another puff on his cigar!
Just remember, Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able tell the difference!. Also, "It is as bad as you think, and they are out to get you!"
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
ricktrains4824Use a small tip and low heat to melt it slow? Or just use the smallest tip, high heat, quick in and get out?
Hi Ricky,
I don't recommend the 'low and slow approach'. LEDs can only tolerate so much heat. If you leave the heat on too long you might fry the LED, or you might melt the good connection and end up with the LED stuck to the tip of your iron where you can watch it go up in smoke!
Use moderately high heat and get in and out quickly. It is important that the joint and the tip of your iron be clean before starting. I would suggest adding a tiny amount of solder flux to the joint and you should wipe the tip clean right before you touch it to the joint. You probably won't need to add any solder.
Wishing you success!
Good evening everyone.
I received three nifty cast resin pick up trucks in the mail today. A 1941 International, 1938 Mack, and a 1940 REO. These look pretty old, and will sure add some flavor to scenes in the future.
I hope all are well. I am doing fine right now. Work was very slow today, but the store did just as much sales as last Monday. I kind of enjoyed a less-hectic day.
One of the young girls I work with had car trouble after work. I stayed with her in the dark until her father arrived to give her a ride home. She really appreciated that I stayed with her.
That is about all.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Good morning Diners. A strong coffee please, Zoe. I need it, because I am furious. Yesterday, one of the Rainbow leaders (Junior Girl Guides) tested positive for Covid.
Instead of staying away she then attended a meeting of Rainbows. Other leaders and children were there. (I had taken my younger granddaughter.)
This morning we received a message to get tested for Covid. Furious!!!
Henry, that is a really cool story! What an experience.
Kevin, nice of you to stay with her. I'm sure her dad appreciated it just as much as she.
David, that is terrible. I can imagine how upset you must be.
Made beef and cheddar sandwiches last night for dinner. Man did they turn out good. They really hit the spot. Didn't grab a picture. I was too busy stuffing my face!
Good morning, diners. Just black coffee this morning.
Today is another nice day -- a good day to pick up leaves. Tomorrow, the weather changes again, and by Thursday, we will be only a few degrees above freezing for the high. The creek now has ice on it when I walk in the mornings.
My entire life, I spent each day concerned with the things of the day -- work, money, car, meetings, etc.
Now, I spend each day noticing things I didn't before, like the creek freezing, and the beauty of the trees. I spotted Orion and actually looked at it for a while. Other little things that I ignored for most of my life now seem to stand out.
The musings of an old man.
I hope the diners who we aren't hearing much from are all doing well. Have a good day, everyone.
Hiking with all the grandkids at Grand Teton Park. I was a little nervous since the trail side dropped off the right side a long ways, but the kids did what they were supposed to do. Hours of hard uphill work, but the view was great.
York1My entire life, I spent each day concerned with the things of the day -- work, money, car, meetings, etc.
This is one of the amazing things about me going back to a job while I am sort-or-retired.
I have no worries about work, money, cars,or meetings. I just do my job as part of the day with no real ambition or goals. It is so much different than before, and I notice a lot more about my co-workers that are like I was 30 years ago.
I did not hike in Gand Teton when I visited. I wish I would have spent a day there instead of two days in Yellowstone. It looks beautiful.
I can certainly understand your frustration and anger, David. I don't mingle in the general population very often anymore but when I do I'll still be wearing a mask. I'm pretty much an outlier that way. I went to a train show about a month ago and I'd estimate about one-in-twenty had a mask on. Even before covid, I would want to have PPE while sharing space (and breathing air) with some of the characters I've witnessed at train shows. I think some of these guys climb out of the basement once a year for the show, then right back into the basement
Can anyone tell if the wood stove is warm?
Warm_Cats by Edmund, on Flickr
We do keep kindling on hand but probably won't use much. Once the stove is lit it will be going until mid-April or so.
NYC_War_Caboose by Edmund, on Flickr
Good morning (as I type anyways) all.
David (NorthBrit) - I totally get the anger. My opinion, anyone who is brazen enough to willingly expose others during this pandemic should be held criminally responsible.
Ed - Like you, I don't mingle with many folks right now. And anywhere I go, be it grocery run, chiropractors later today, or anywhere else, I always wear a mask, at minimum 3 layers. Our county has several schools shut down this week, and that of course made the news. The very next news story? A local VFD doing a fundraiser with a "purse bingo", with a packed full social hall with zero masks to be seen.
I have been stopped by people before to "inform me" that masks are no longer required. My usual answer is "I know. I'm choosing to wear it, which is perfectly legal, and within my constitutional rights to do." One time, before I could respond, someone who knows me who was there did for me, by stating, quite boldly, "He's got asthma, making him high risk. If you have a problem with him wearing that mask you deal with me, got it?"
Dave (HOn30) - Thanks for answering the question on the chip led. That was my first thought, but then I second guessed myself, and figured I best ask before attempting it and making things worse. So I will break out the soldering station I have, place my smallest tip on it, and see if I can simply correct the issue with a hot temp quick in and back out. Thanks!
Hello to those I haven't mentioned, hope all are well, best wishes to those not, and all enjoy the day!