Elliot's Trackside Diner, October 2012

Grumble, mumble, grouch…

Someone must have stayed up late or have set the alarm clock, just to move the Diner. Kansas, eh? What the heck is in Kansas, other than wheat fields, buffalo herds and prairie grass?

Good Morning Gang!

Thanks, Galaxy, for doing the honors of moving the Diner to the October 2012 place. Mind, you, but a place little more civilized would be nice - next time … [:-^]

Flo, just coffee for me, please. Petra surprised me with a mile long HD list this morning, so I got to be going!

Have a nice day!

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

It’s Monday, October 1, 2012

[:-,]


TIPTON IN

Morning Coffee in the Diner

GOOD MORNING!!!

I moved the diner here because as far as I know, we have

never beeen to Kansas!

Here are some train videos - BUT NOT OF KANSAS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL2DA466C0CEB53BD1&v=0xrJDQTshI4&feature=player_embedded

[}:)]

[8-|]

Morning guys, just a quick stop before work.

Kansas, eh? I’ve been there once when I was 3 or 4.

JR, Yup, the boat is gone. At least there area few other girls I’m talking too lol

Good Morning

Got the old sun out and our temperature, right now, is 36F…[:S]

Have a bunch of stuff to do today before getting some relatives showing up…so…better be doing this…

Have a great day!!!

Hi Guys,

Just stopped in before I head to the job at about 8am. Galaxy did you get my PM about the furnace on the weekend? Well I should try to eat something before I go ( nerves bothering me again ) I will post back sometime tonight around 4:45pm or 5pm letting you know how things went. Wish me luck [Y]

Jeremy

Kansas…the state wherein you can stack 2 telephone books and get a view…

Well, I am off in search for the illusive huckleberry. The weather should be perfect.

Sue

Night…

Good Morning!!!

Coffee, just coffee please. And just leave the pot thanks.

Weather? Don’t care. It’s out there though…somewhere.

Last time I went through Kansas, and it took like a week to get through it, or so it seemed, the wind was blowing so hard I would drive ten mile and get blown back 11. After a while I realized I was actually going backwards……… So I turned around and backed through the state.[:|]

Jim- “Some days” I feel like I just can’t win? Ha[%-)].

Honestly I do not know what those terms Kelvin and Lumens actually mean, Well, I didn’t. I do now, but that knowledge will stay with me only for a brief time due to the fact I probably won’t use the info for another 50 years so I’ll forget by oh, probably say Thursday about 2:30pm. Like wedding vows, I just knew I had to say them or I wouldn’t get to leave. Understanding was irrelevant…at the time[:-^]. Actually I originally bought the daylights for Toddland (of which I’m king) based on someone in here’s recommendation a while back and said “Wow! I like ‘em these!!” And then read the box and now I just get the ones that read the same. Or close anyway. “Stumble through life” is my motto. That and “eat it now, throw it up later”. Works pretty good for me. Ohhh sometimes it has it’s downfalls, but for the most part……, it works.

I also don’t buy the special issues anymore due to the fact they (or at least the couple I’ve got) are just reprints of articles from the year on the subject contained in the stack of MR mags I have that I said I wasn’t gonna keep. Haven’t gotten around to removing pertinent articles to put in the binders I have for them. Another project for another day.

How’s the shower coming? Funny you should ask. Door’s too small for new size, but I knew that from the git g

Good Morning all,

48F, HI 66F, LO 55F, M Cloudy

Well Toto, I guess were not in Indiana anymore……

I spent most of the weekend catching up on fair weather projects outside. Dorothy has to have her foot operated on again this Friday so I broke down and bought a Futon for the living room. Puppy “helped” me assemble it Sunday morning; it’s amazing Katje has absolutely no gag reflex as she almost swallowed an adjustable wrench, 5” bolt, and Phillips screwdriver. Later in the day Katje assisted in replacing an outside flood light, re-potting the house plants, and cleaning out the gutters. All my house plants go on the enclosed patio in the summer then back inside for the winter. Sunday the temps will be near freezing so I have to move everything back inside this week.

Ran some trains; the 4x8 layout is up and running. A couple more hours of work and it will be ready to be delivered.

Saturday and Sunday train season officially starts for me with the NMRA Division 4 Carnival Train show at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. If anyone is there between 10 and noon Saturday stop up and say Hi, I’ll have my International Orange Coast Guard hat on. I might be pushing around one of our club members that recently broke his

Good Morning (Afternoon), everyone. I’ll have the stuffed French Toast, with home fries, and a side of bacon this morning (or, better put, bacon with a side of French Toast [;)]). Since it’s a bit chilly this morning, I’ll have a big glass of OJ as well as the coffee. Thanks Flo.

The weekend was pretty good here – there were about 100-110 people who came through the museum, which is a little below average … though once word starts getting around that the roundhouse itself is open and that people can see the 4070, I have a feeling that the numbers will skyrocket (eeeep).

Sunday morning I was able to finally get around to changing out the rapido couplers on my F-1. Since it’s an A/B set though, I’m keeping the rapido couplers in between them for now. I learned a few things with that project.

  1. MT couplers are a pain in the rear to assemble… make the Kadees look a right walk in the park.
  2. That assembly jig is not only helpful, but required – I should see about picking up the “starter kit” at Berea … if not there, than LHS.
  3. the original pins/clips used for the Rapido couplers fit through the mounting holes in the draft gearboxes with a minimum of reaming (yay!).
  4. These are a lot harder to uncouple than KD.

Next project → find my mill file (or obtain new one if existing one is not found), and go to town on the A unit’s weight, in order to fit the decoder under the shell. Then ensure motor isolation, etc for installation of said decoder.

Good morning. It’s 60° with 95% humidity. Mostly cloudy. High 75°

Bill paying day. I have a couple of bills to pay online then I’ll be in town paying my bills at those places that refuse to go to online billing. Today I’ll pay off the last item I bought through the History Channel Club and pay off THE LAST payment on my Life Membership. That’ll be that much more money I can use for something else. I don’t think I’ll get much done on the grain elevator today. If I do it would likely be on an upper smaller structure that will be on top of the one I worked on yesterday. I also need to work out how long the galleries will be.

Well best get about the business of the day.

Goooooooooood Mornin’, cardiologists’ delight please, with extra bacon this morning. Thank you.

Today starts a wonderful project. One so wonderful, I’ve been putting it off for a week-and-a-half now. The school district I cover gave it’s Annual Yearly Progress/Annual Progress Report for the “No Child Left Behind” requirements. Last year (2011-2012 school year) the proficiency scores went down, significantly and across the board. But, the district is more or less better than the state average.

The Curriculum Director blames the major shift on using a new test. In the past, they used Iowa Test of Basic Skills “A” or “B.” Last year, they got the brand new Test “E” which is aligned with something called “The Iowa Core Curriculum.” So, new test, shift in what’s taught when, and not everybody on the same page with what’s to be taught = big drop in scores. THAT’s their story and they’re sticking to it.

So, this week I’ll be looking up NCLB info and State Dept. of Ed. info to see what is what and if THAT is truly THAT.

Or maybe I’ll go tear out the tub and shower. I hear THATs a really relaxing, no-stress kinda project…

Have a nice day peoples!

Chris (the Iowan)

Morning Folks

Flo, Coffee pleases.

Feeling a little [+o(] to my stomach this morning.

Ever had odd things pop up in your dream from your past? Last night I had a real old memory became a dream? How many old Drag Racer’s remember Jungle Jim? Well he was sort of in the dream, but it was mainly about Jungle Pam! [:D] You older guys will know why I have such a big [:P] look on my faces!

First thing I did when I got up was Google Jungle Jim and there she was! [:D] Have no idea why it came up in the dream last night, have not thought of them in years? More like 30 years?

Time for my med’s.

Ken

Good morning everybody.

Kansas… I recall going there as a child because we had relatives there. I grew up in northern IL, and we had relatives in KS, MO, and IA. There were some long road trips without freeways and without air conditioning. I recall passing numerous Burma Shave signs and numerous smelly barnyards.

We returned from our trip to northern IL late last night… It was my 50th high school class reunion. My classmates are truly remarkable. Now, they look older than their parents did when I knew them 50 years ago. We all had an enjoyable reunion. However, we are sad about those classmates who have passed away. Many of my classmates have done amazingly well and accomplished many things with their lives. … If there are any young people reading this post, I must say your next 50 years will pass by much faster than you can imagine now. So, please do not waste any of your precious time.

You DIners will be interested in this part. We traveled early so we could make a side trip to Wisconsin. [:D]

Prior to the trip I emailed Jim Hediger of Model Railroader and asked if MR could accommodate visiors. He invited us to a visit, on Thursday.

Jim conducted a tour of Kalmbach’s headquarters just for us. We saw many interesting things. I took photos, but I have not yet loaded them in the computer. I’ll tell you more and post some pictures in the next day or two. … Today, I’m busy with a lot of other stuff.

I also need to look at recent days of posts here in the DIner, and I will respond when I get a chance to do so.

Happy Model Railroading.

Well, Toto, follow the yellow brick road to Atchison…

we’re off to a start on our trip around Kansas to the Atchison Rail Museum, 200 S 10th street, Atchison, Kansas, 66002. Situated in Atchison, Kansas, the Atchison Rail Museum was founded in 1988 by the Northeast Kansas Railroaders Society. One portion of the land was leased from the city, and the other part was purchased from the Santa Fe Railroad

"The museum exhibits an outdoor collection of rail cars, locomotive and rolling stock from the old Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad. It also is the home of the 811 steam engine. Rail collections include the Santa Fe 789 Class, built by Baldwin; Missouri Pacific Eagle Merchandise Car, Santa Fe Caboose, Missouri Pacific Caboose, Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Post Office/Baggage Car, Burlington Northern Caboose, Missouri Pacific Snow Plow, and Missouri Pacific M of W Dining Car".

There are enough of folks likin’ the ol’ AT&SF so i thought we’d start here!

Why is it so FLAT around here?

Gotta wait for a phone call from the furnace repair people. gotta get a few scripts filled. Waiting the mail as a bill that usually comes the 28,29, 30th isn’t here yet and today is the first…better be here now. Say, my MR and TRAINS mags usually come the same days, wonder where they are too? Most of our bills come the middle of the month…at the point before they roll in, we look like we are flush with money! Then it all goes bye-bye real quick!!

Oh my aches and pains…

better go get to dishes and laundry…

[8-|]

Mornin’ everyone! Yep it is still morning here as I start to type…

Zoe, I just need a refil of the dark roast coffee please. At least they do have good half and half around these parts!

Mice! I have mousies in my house again! Found the calling cards on the rails in the upper staging yesterday so I know they are new! Set a trap upstairs as the cats have been once again staring under the refrigerator and the stand alone cupboard there during the last few days. The trap I set down cellar netted me a dead mouse overnight. Has been re4set. The one I set near the refrigerator was empty, but this morning Blackie was busy intently staring under a dresser in my bedroom. I carefully pulled out the dresser and sure enough he had been staring at a mousie… The trap is now under a box with a hole in it next to the dresser. The box has a gallon jug of water on top to keep the cats from getting slapped by the trap! I thought I had all the holes to the basement plugged! Guess not.

Currently 62°F and partly cloudy outside here in the Finger Lakes. The high will be all the way up to 65°F later this afternoon. I have to watch the granddaughters for a while tonight so their mom can attend a Parent Teachers Assoc. meeting.

Galaxy, sounds like a great museum. Imagine THAT out here in the middle of nowhere… [:-^] Only kidding…

Catch you all later!

73

Thanks,

I used weathering powders from Bragdon Enterprises…that and Dullcoat.

The yellow on the handrails does need to be touched up though…I used Daytona Yellow from Pactra paints…although I do have another paint I would like to try …it is Pactra Acryl basic yellow…it is made for painting lexan R/C car bodies.

As for the radiators…I just used diluted black Polly Scale paint that took about 3 to 5 applications to get the right look.

My latest acquisitions from American Mint. I picked them up on a credit voucher for the cost of postage. The pocket watch was free.