Karl - Interesting idea about the commerative cars for your anniversary. A little story about anniversaries, for our first year anniversary I gace my wife 1 yellow rose. Yellow is her favorite color. On our second anniversary I gave her two. Seemed like a good idea and at the time inexpensive gift, and she really liked it. Fast forward 42 YEARS, Do you know what 42 yellow roses cost in 2012, don’t ask. I think next year I will give her a commerative rail car.
Ken - I seem to get more than my share of stupid customers every day I work. Sometimes I really cannot believe how some people function being that dumb.
Stayed at the hospital all day today instead of going into work as planned. They draw blood every 6 hours to see how her blood counts (red and white cells) are doing. Her numbers were up after all the draws today, so she is making her own cells which is great.
I received my 6 bags of ballast from Arizona Rock and Mineral in todays mail. Just need some time now to start do some ballesting.
oj…wha? huh? OH, didn’t see you there…coffee …PLEASE…
well
GOOD MORNING!!!
Well, We here in the MRRIng may “finish” our layouts, but we then look for ways to “plus” it and rarely do we Rest on our Laurels! SO**:** REST ON ONE’S LAURELS:
To be satisfied with one’s past success and to consider further effort unnecessary-
The laurels that are being referred to when someone is said to ‘rest on his laurels’ are the aromatically scented Laurus Nobilis trees or, more specifically, their leaves. The trees are known colloquially as Sweet Bayand are commonly grown as culinary or ornamental plants.
The origins of the phrase lie in ancient Greece, where laurel wreaths were symbols of victory and status. Of course, ancient Greece is where history and mythology were frequently mixed, so we need to tread carefully. The pre-Christian Greeks associated their god Apollo with laurel - that much is historical fact, as this image of Apollo wearing a laurel wreath on a 2nd century BC coin indicates. The reason for that association takes us into the myth of Apollo’
Today’s gonna be interesting – hopefully it warms up for the open house…
At the moment it’s 9deg (C, just shy of 50F), so would make for chilly tours. From noon to 4 (approximate running time of the open house), it’ll be 17C (mid 60s F), so probably will end up being a crisp day. Not that I mind – throw an extra jacket or a long sleeved shirt on under my “work shirt” (one of those Dickies heavy-duty ones from Target or Walmart) and it’ll be all good.
IF we had the 4070 operational (or , heck, ANY steam locomotive there), I’m 99.9% sure it’d be a great attraction … because they’re WARM! [;)]
Good morning, Diners. I will have my coffee now and save the belgian waffle until after my run. We are supposed to have drizzle this morning, but we may have dodged the bullet. The moon is out.
Good morning. It’s 72° with 100% humidity. There’s more than a fair chance of rain. The high will be 82°.
I don’t think I’ll be getting much done today. There’s a heavy looking line of thunderstorms heading our way. It’s showing up on the radar as heavy to severe. So looking like it’s gonna get noisy and wet. The power has already gone off twice in the last twenty minutes. Just what I need when I’m trying to put together a descent looking structure wall in MSPaint. So in view of that it’s looking like there will be no progress on the elevator project today.
Morning, Janie - I’ll have an egg sandwich with bacon, and a Santa Fe mug of coffee, please. Thank you!
Ah, knew that you’d mentioned that, but my memory slipped on me. My bad, Jeff. You said last night that you thought those elevator windows (on the building part) were too big - I would agree. I (sorta) remember that on Chris’ photos, his elevator didn’t seem to have as many windows on it (of course, if you want ladders for your elevator crew to be able to get down, that’s your call…). [swg] Hey, I don’t know if I’ve seen that house you posted this morning - is that from an earlier layout? Who made that (kit)? Looks interesting, and not like most we see.
Paul, good news on your wife’s tests and progress. [:)] May she continue with her healing. [angel] You mentioned getting your ballast in - what colors/types of AZ ballast did you go with? And I forgot (hmm, seems to be a pattern for me lately…), what part of the country is your RR set in? UP country? or elsewhere?
Galaxy, you come up with some very interesting information for us! Hmm, wondering if Ken were a Greek god, could he turn BofS into a tree? [:-,] Guess I’d best get to my coffee, mind is doing some funny stuff this morning… [:-^]
It’s in the low 50’s right now here in Pittsburgh and kind of overcast. We are going to leave in about an hour and drive to visit my niece and her family outside of Harrisburg. She is having a birthday party for one of my great nephews who turned 6 a couple of days ago. We try to attend all the birthday partys for the great nephews and nieces. Always a lot of fun and we don’t really get to see them as much as we would like to.
Coming back home tomorrow might not be as nice as thunderstorms are in the forecast, I don’t like driving in the rain or in the dark too much these days. See how old age creeps into our daily routines. Probably won’t get to do any railfanning this coming Sunday either. Funny thing is my wife has already mentioned that. She has even suggested that maybe we could take a side trip to Cresson & Cassandra on the way home Sunday. But that would add a couple of hours to the trip home, and if it rains, it would be a waste of time. I think she is getting into this railfanning more than I am.
Hoping everybody has a great weekend and stays safe. Tom
Currently it is 55 with an expected high of 87 under sunny skies.
Jim - The ballast is a grey mix, it is called CSX, Southern Pacific, Wabash, in HO scale. I model in the SP in HO. I have used Woodland Scenics and HighBall ballast before, but this stuff comes highly recommended. It looks good in the bag.
I have a closing shift again today. They are suppose to move my wife today from the oncology ward to a long term ward. Same floor just a different hospital name. Something to do with insurance and physical rehab since she has been in there this time for over five weeks .I will stop by the hospital before I go to work to see if the move was made and how she is doing.
Janie, when ya get done with Jim, can you fix me up with 2 eggs over easy, toast, and some bacon and sausage on the side? [dinner] If there is gonna be a pork shortage, I want to eat my fill before Miss Piggy gets on the table!
Jim, No anniversary cars from me. See, I delivered at the wedding,he didnt! I was off the hook, took him almost 5 years to get off the hook! Priorities![(-D]
Paul, If you are going to give the wife an anniversary rail car, maybe one made out of a soft material,so it wont hurt so much when it crashes into your head???[B)] I know as generous as my girl is toward the hobby, flowers and jewelry trumps trains any day![yeah]
Ken I feel your pain. Working in a automotive service dept is a magnet for stupidity. I see it everyday, and it scares me sometimes…the people have a drivers license!!![D)]
Galaxy, Resting on laurels eh? Never got a chance to try that, for there is no rest for the weary right?
Well, the vittles were good, but I really must get outside and get stuff done today, for the rain comes tomorrow! Hopefully it won’t mess up the NASCAR viewing . And for those longtime followers of motorsports, veteran announcer Chris Economaki passed away yesterday, he was 91.
That’s not a kit at all. It’s a real house. That’s my younger sisters house in Pennsylvania. It’s just inside the eastern edge of Little Buffalo State Park. Here’s a couple more shots of it.
Thanks, Jeff - I had come back to this page, and was thinking “Wait a minute! That truck looks too real, and the lighting and background look sooooo real. I bet that isn’t a kit, after all.” That’s what I get for not studying it closer the first time. I’ve seen several houses that resemble that one - wish somebody made a kit fairly close to that, though. That porch is different from pretty much all the ones I have seen out there (of course, that might depend on how closely I looked, eh?..). Thanks for the other photos; maybe if I get ambitious, I might try scratchbuilding one later. I’ll save the photos for now.
Not much planned here for the day but go to the club later. There is a train show locally next Saturday so I will be going there. Had pumpkin flavored Leggo’s for breakfast. MOH was going to throw them out because she does not like the flavor so I tried it and it tastes like pumpkin bread to me, so a little butter and I was set.
Jeff- That house reminds me of where my great aunt and uncle lived in PA.
Tom- Enjoy your visit. They grow up so quickly.
Karl- If you want to meet stupid people get a job in EMS. I sometimes wonder why the human race is still alive.
Paul- I am glad YOH blood values are looking better.
Hope everyone has a good day ad prayers or those in need.
Check this forcast Sat. 99 Sun. 101 Mon. 105 Tue. 106 This should be the last of the real hot weather in bankrupt southern Calif. 87 Fri. Its always hot the 1st two weeks of Sept. and often the whole month. Nice after that, not to hot or not too cold sometimes clear till Christmas. These temps are for the San Fernando valley, Downtown Los Angeles is a bit cooler.
I live in a manufactured house on a permanate foundation, its construction is the same as a double wide trailer. It has a natural gas wall heater with a fan and is good for this area. The house is 40 years old and I have every reason to believe the heater is original. In spite of the above tempatures it is cold here to me in the winter and the heater gets plenty of use.
I am later than usual today. Spent most of the day helping my friend Lothar to take down his old layout - not a nice job. We managed to salvage all building, figures, track, switches and switch motors, but the rest will have to be scrapped. Some of the lumber may also find its way into the new layout, which will be started soon. Once we have cleared the basement, there will be a good paint job necessary, before we can install the work benches. The new layout will be in his second son´s room, who is due to move out [:-,]
I am still a little undecided about my own plans. I took some time to draft up an O scale layout, again based on John Allen´s timesaver. O scale is gaining market share, as a numbe of new manufacturers have entered into the German market. Lenz (the DCC folks) has a full range of supplies - from locos and cars to track and structures. They have a fairly inexpensive starter set with a little Diesel switcher, some cars, track and their DCC 090 set - very tempting!
You know me, I just had to put an idea for a O scale layout on paper:
Jim - I also got a little confused seeing Jeff´s picture of his sister´s house. I thought he had photoshoped a picture of an HO scale house into a real picture, as the house seems to be somehow out of proportion when compared to the truck. Well, Jeff - you got us fooled there [(-D]
Just got back from the train club. I had an issue with one spot of track derailing one of my cars. After some work, we got the track and car to co-operate. Had to adjust a switch and loosen one of the trucks on my car just a tad. They said I should think about getting a wheel replaced because it doesn’t have much of a flange… I tried with the beacon on my Gp30 again, I found out two of my resistors I got with my 100 pack of LEDs works great with the athearn mini-bulb. I got it wired up and apparently the resistors bridged leads or something because the bulb burned out. Unfortunately I had CA’d it to a DW light casting. The bulb broke when trying to remove it. I tried to remove the glass but the plastic lens busted. Worse part is I checked my remaining mini-mulb and it’s dead too. So the GP30 sits for a bit waiting for some mini-bulbs… I’ll likely head over to pensacola next weekend and pick up some more.
Carwise I’ve been sanding on a cowl hood for my car. The cowl is necessary to clear the new upper intake. I’m also going to change the exhaust to equal-length shorties and an X-pipe. The work on my car will take a few days at most, and is dependant on when my sister’s boyfriend’s family moves their boat out of the way (it’s been there since Issac). Reason being is that the new exhaust is on my dad’s car, and he’s swapping engines. The boat has to move for the engine swap, and I can’t just take the exhaust off until the boat is out of the way(won’t run without it). Another hold up is my father has to get his second car running before doing the swap. My father’s plan is to start today and have me take my brother’s car while mine is undergoing parts swaps. It would work but the instrument cluster doesn’t light up and I work at 6am when it’s still dark and it’ll be a couple of days before his second car runs. His revision was to take my mom’s car and he’ll drop off my brother’s car. My idea is
Goooooooood Afternoon. It’s sunny, 70s, beautiful outside. And I’m in the digital darkroom and on the sports desk today. grumble grumble grumble
JIM (from Missouri): I don’t think you’d have to scratchbuild THAT neat little house JEFF posted. I’d kitbash it. I think RIX makes a bungalow house THAT would w**k for the front porch area, and I’d look at one of the smaller two-story house kits, AHM maybe, for the two-story part. The back would be the toughest with the change in elevations. Some scratchbuilding may be necessary for THAT.
And yes, the second dust explosion is much, much, much bigger/worse due to the incredible amount of fuel in the air to w**k with (thanks to the first one).
CURT: Stupid people is part of why I got out of EMS. Not just stupid patients, but stupid administrators (medical and non-medical).
Well (still way down, I got a postcard from the toads), I’d best get at it. THAT w**k ain’t gonna do itself!
Vincent, that sounded like you have the mechanic’s version of “Who’s on First?” there. Hope your sister’s boyfriend’s family gets the boat promptly!
Chris, I might not have as much of a level drop on the one side as Jeff’s sister’s house originally has. Not sure I’m up to THAT full challenge just yet… [swg] On grain elevator explosions I still have a hard time figuring what the reaction is that drives the explosion, unless it’s something like semi-fermented grain dust creating miniscule bits of alcohol, etc. Anyone care to explain what the actual ‘mechanism’ is there? (Bear in mind, I’m NOT a whiz kid about chemistry, so KISS, as they say…).[D)] Hey, are you at the ‘home’ digital darkroom, or are you at w**k and manning the sports desk?
I like your delivery van there, Jeff! Actually, kind of a ‘double’ punny there.
This afternoon, I got the rest of the filling station ready for the gesso (aka, scale ‘stucco’). Have it drying on the kitchen table, and I got out the jar of gesso. Will look through my brushes and see what size might w**k best. Here’s a couple of photos of my ‘progress.’ [swg] First, the walls and signs:
(The one on the ‘ground’ goes with the longer piece horizontally coming out from the front center part of the roof, by the way.)
And here’s with the roof (just set on top, didn’t try to completely line it up yet. Looks like a bunch of gas stations from back in the 40’s and 50’
Good day to all of you fine folk loitering here in the Diner this Saturday afternoon, may I join you ?
Chloe when the time is right, I’ll have my usual with a plate of home fries & onions rings and today I’ll chase it with an RC cola. Thanks much.
Well, it is Saturday and here I am back at work. When I work On the week-end I usually try to have a history lesson for you, so sit down, relax, have a sip of something you prefer and do a quick little reading on a very unique rail system that started about 110 years ago. Hang on here it comes >>>>>>>>>>> Ulrich will be especially interested it was in his country.
A LITTLE JOURNEY THROUGH THE AIR
St. Nicholas Magazine—1902By KATHARINE MORGAN CROOKS.
WHEN I was small I often heard my elders tell what a great invention a railway with wooden tracks, on which cars were drawn by horses, had seemed to them when they were young. Nowadays we are so used to the wonders of mechanics that the most extraordinary methods of journeying appear as matters of course to us. Those of you who have been in London have probably gone from one part to another on the “Tuppenny Tube,” the electric railway deep in the earth, which winds its way like a long snake beneath London. It is built with two single-track tunnels; each tunnel, when you peer into it from an underground station, looks like a big tube, and is not much higher or wider than the train. From its shape and the fare, which is twopence (familiarly “tuppence”), comes the nickname Tuppenny Tube.
Many of you have looked down into the deep cuts in New York where men are digging and blasting for a railway under the city; and most of you are familiar with railways which, i
Many of you have looked down into the deep cuts in New York where men are digging and blasting for a railway under the city; and most of you are familiar with railways which, i