Elliot's Trackside Diner....JUNE 2013!!!!

Welcome! The old diner is here:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/217372.aspx

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Wlcome!!!

Well, Here in NY it is 90F, and I thought we need to go someplace cooler as summer comes on to us!

SO…

We are in ALASKA!!!

WE will tour on the ALASKAN RAILS!!!

We will see what our 49th state haas to offer!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska

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Cool: Yea, it’s June already, and it’s in the low 90s in Jersey, and I’m resisting turning on the AC yet[:|]

After all, the Stanley Cup hasn’t been decided yet, so it cannot be summer yet, right?[:^)]

The Alaska by Rail trip sounds like it would be interesting, hope y’all enjoy it.

Joe

I turned it on,have to with my asthma problems!

I shoud have waited til JULY or AUGUST???

WIll do research for the ALASKA rail trips…

SHare all you like, folks!

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yay, alaska!!

The Alaska Railroad stretches 470 miles from Seward on the south-central Kenai Peninsula, to the northern “golden heart” city of Fairbanks. Along the way, the train travels through some of the most scenic and rugged territory in Alaska, including Denali National Park, Denali State Park, and Chugach National Forest. The Alaska Railroad runs two primary passenger services during the summer season. On the rail north of Anchorage, the Denali Star operates daily between Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna and Anchorage. To the south, the COastal Classic operates daily between Anchorage and Seward.

Alaska Railroad Denali Star

The Denali Star rail route travels north of Anchorage along the Knik Arm and through the towns of Wasilla and Talkeetna. Heading north from Talkeetna you will pass over Hurricane Gulch and through Broad Pass before arriving at the railroad station at Denali National Park. The bridge at Hurricane spans 918 feet, some 296 feet over the Chulitna River. Your trip from Denali Park to Fairbanks will take you through Healy and Nenana and several other small communities. The entire railroad trip spans over 350 miles and takes 12 hours. Nearly everyone breaks the train trip up and stays in Denali National Park or Talkeetna for a few nights. Your railroad journey offers a number of great views of Mt. McKinley, and an excellent chance to see wildlife such as moose, bald eagles, and bear.

Denali Star Schedule 2013

Northbound Schedule (5/15 to 9/14)

Southbound Schedule (5/16 to 9/15)

Been looking at the F3B I got today and comparing the steps to those on a metal one. Doesn’t look to be all that much difference as flash goes.

Good evening. Need a little bit of a pick-me-up right now, time to raid the fudgie bars! [dinner][:-^]

Graduation is on June 4th, so there’s only four, count 'em, four days of high school life left. Oddly, not looking forward to it at all.

Howdy.

Oklahoma is currently having major tornadoes again. Going through Oklahoma City. Bad news.

Galaxy … Thanks for moving the Diner. June is a good time to be in AK. There will hardly be any night time darkness in June. Maybe only 3 hours of darkness depending on where we are.

Jeff … Have fun with the B-unit. I imagine Sundown Shops will be busy.

Has anyone been in contact with Lee? … I miss his posting in the Diner. … Ditto for Sue, Bama, and others.

Howdee Gang! [C):-)]

wow, new digs,fresh paint. [:D], but where did that cool breeze come from??? Ohh, ALASKA!! I get it now!

The land of the midnight sun, rubbing noses, and "watch out where them Huskies go and dontcha eat no yellow snow!![:O][(-D] Literally,cool!!

Ray…[angel] for your sister. Attitude is everything though, or so the wife taught me. She’s a cancer survivor who is about to celebrate 5 years cancer free! Please let your sister know,she is not alone, and can win!

Busy modeling here. Tomorrow 2 2-bay Trinity hoppers go to paint. They started life as 3 bay hoppers, but fell victims to my sick mind. See NOBODY makes a 2 bay Trinity hopper, and Lehigh Cement owns a bunch. So to get some, I had to make some![:^)]

Also renumbered the last of the MMID Hoppers. Now just to weather the last 8 (out of 37)! [:O]

Also just finished a remotor and DCC/Sound install on a buddies Athearn GP40-2. Apply function 8 and you can’t tell it from an Atlas ! [:D]

Jake Congrats on surviving High School! What’s on tap next? (After a fun summer??)

Gotta trot,be back later,mebbe I’ll bring a moose to the dinner!! (ducks out quickly before Vinnie reacts!) [:-,][:O]

Evening Dinners

Flo, [B] pleases and Eskimo Pie.

Work Front Well I am working in another store. I think is is temporary? Dave (area supervisor) says it is, but he lies like a rug. For now I am working in St Charlies MO again, long drive about 40 miles each way. Scott is the manager there and last year I told Dave I refuses to work with him again! [:(!] Well Scott is on medical leave, so I will work there for now.

Ray, sure hope your sister beats the big C again! [Y]

See you all later!

Ken

So, Alaska it is… can’t tell MOH or she’ll want me to book a cruse ship from here down to Vancouver. I HATE CRUSES let alone a cruse through glaciers. Cruses are supposed to be warm.

Since it’s been raining for days here I’ve got some wo*k done on my RR. Scenery w**k that is. Took a few pictures. Mind you I still have to paint the backdrop, plant some grass, trees etc. but it’s a start anyway.

Just a couple of pictures. Not totally happy but we’ll see once the rest of the “stuff” is in place. Which reminds me, I still need to move that stupid light switch…

Cheers

Dennis

Evening guys

Today has been better than the other day.

My car doesn’t leak anymore. No, I didn’t change the timing cover to block gasket in record time. That stop-leak or whatever actually worked. For how long IDK, so no long trips. So I’m good to go around town tomorrow.

I also got my Walther’s 50’ coal gons. I had enough styrofoam to make loads for them, but don’t have enough wood to make the supports for them… The interior bracing is nice, but it makes getting a coal load in them a bit trickier. I’ve since removed the protomax couplers from all but the A-end of one car and the B end of another and replaced them with the remaining dummy couplers I got from Dennis (speaking of which, where is he?, and “That editor”?) I have the wheelsets in painting at the moment. The mask only holds enough for 10 cars, I had 14 cars (the athearn rtr thrall is getting it’s wheels painted as well)

As for the finger, I talked to my doctor friend. She said it looked bad, but it seemed to be healing already. I tend to heal faster than most others for some reason.

Jeff, is that an example of the “sugar crash”?

Ray, hope your sister pulls through.

Evening All,

Ray- I am saying prayers for your sister.

Dennis- Nice rock work. What did you use to make them?

Karl- Congrats

Well I’m beat so I will talk to you tomorrow. Prayers for those in need.

Nope, that was more of a potassium crash. My sugar level was OK. When your potassium bottoms out things can get REALLY crazy.

Potassium deficiency

Too much potassium, my problem with bananas, cherries and several other foods.

Going to college at Pennsylvania College of Technology (or simply called PennTech around here), and earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Top? Ah boy. Time to get the D.C. out.

Congrats Jake!

Vince it’s the BN green, trust me. :slight_smile:

Jake: Congratulations on surviving high school. Now you’re facing a whole nuther world called college.

*

Since I got my potassium level back up I feel much better. I’m still having bouts of dizziness when I stand though. Checked on the Varney metal F3B. It left from Newnan, Georgia at 7pm and has just gone through Atlanta. The projected delivery date is the 3rd.

Time for me to call it a night. See y’all tomorrow.

Gooooooood Evening,

Alaska 'eh? Cool.

Been a bit busy at w**k providing content for THAT Editor. We’ve had track and field season wrap-up, boys’ State Soccer Tournament finishes tomorrow, girls Regional Soccer is in full-swing. I thought I’d finally meet Sliced Bread this morning during our semi-weekly facetime, but he was unavailable. Maybe next week or the week after. Was in Des Moines yesterday for the aforementioned State Soccer tourney, in the rain for most of the day. Lots of flooding in Iowa, looks a lot like it did in '93 (at the start of the flooding, THAT-is).

JEFF: Low potassium led to my FiL parking his brand new car. In his neighbor’s living room. Glad you’re doing better!

Well (clear full, toads packed up and left weeks ago, said to send 'em a postcard when we get “normal” weather again), I see the twisters have been out playing again. Hoping CUDAKEN is OK, sounds like the St. Louis area was hit. I’ve got family in Norman, OK and the live stream of KFOR TV4 said THAT city was hit. My parents were house/critter sitting there when Moore was hit. Dad said they were 3-4 miles away from the Moore monster, couldn’t see it, but heard it just fine. The Aunt and Uncle who live there put in a new tornado safe room earlier this year, looks to have been a very, very good idea.

Somebody mentioned hacking up 3-bay hoppers and making 2-bay’s out of them. THAT’s a trick the CNW did for real out of Pullman Standard grain hoppers. I’ve built 3 or 4 of those now, it’s a great re-purposing of old Athearn blue box foobies.

Whoever’s doing THAT (KB-something?) please tack up a photo when you get 'em built. Also, Lehigh Cement was mentioned. Cedar Rapids

Howdy …

Ray … I meant to ay last time, I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s health. Prayers for her.

Chris … Glad you like the CNW GP7. It was a gift to me. I suppose, if the family member who gave it to me ever visits, I had better have a decoder in it so I can run it. I just set it on the track to take a picture for you. … I don’t recall if I told you. My friend, Gus, is a retired IC engineer and worked on the Iowa lines (IC, ICG, CC, IC agin, and CN). His HO layout has a roundhouse and a good quality turntable. … I here there has been lots of rain in Iowa.

I had company today and did a layout tour. Everything went very well. Ran a lot of trains including the Zephyr I just posted in WPF.