Coffee Shop XXXVIII-7/20/2013

[logandsawman]

The wife said last night I should wait until the unemployment runs out before I worry about a job

One voice inside says never worry (something about the lillies of the field) and another says worry all the time. I am also over 50 but seem to get the job when I really need it, and sometimes not a day before. One thing, it seems like a lot of people eager to give me a job have terrible jobs to give. Not that the work itself is bad, but all the circumstances around the work make it unbearable.

Even during my 30 years of self employment, we would sometimes get a contract notification and advance payment a day before our checking account was zero.

It is going to be a beautiful, sunny and mild day today in northern Minnesota. I will be painting the suspension bridge this evening, maybe get a photo up by Friday. I wonder if they ever used them for railroads, or were they largely decorative?

logandsawman

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

One voice inside says never worry (something about the lillies of the field)

Couldn't resist putting this in. The Lilies of the field. They toil not, nor do they spin. Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series, Season Two, Episode 42: Star Date: 4523.3: The Trouble With Tribbles. Original air date: Dec 29th, 1967.

 

[railfan]

Good Afternoon! I'm developing a concept of getting myself motivated to get cleaned up and motor the battle wagon down toward columbus 30+ miles one way, to the ever awesome hurricane hobbies. Haven't been there in close to two years. I don't remember them having model trains......but they have a large, up to date, in-stock inventory of RC airplanes, RC cars, RC helicopters, plastic models of all types, and accessories of all types. I need to get out of the house and do something. It's fun to look at all the stuff in that store.......and if nothing else I need some spray paint for my losi mini-eight car body.

 

[logandsawman]

The Lilies of the field. They toil not, nor do they spin. Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock, [/B][/I][/COLOR]. Original air date: Dec 29th, 1967.

I saw the episode, like, many times. Mr. Spock is actually quoting the bible.

Cool.

logandsawman

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I saw the episode, like, many times. Mr. Spock is actually quoting the bible.

Cool.

logandsawman

Yep. That's what got my attention when I saw it back in the early 70's. I've seen all the original series shows. I have all three seasons. I also have the animated series, all four seasons of Enterprise and all the movies with the exception of the latest one.

 

[blackz28]

Good luck on the painting project Joe.

but now I'm thinking I could really use two SW1s........

Joe

yea cant have enough SW-1's

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Went to my fathers place for lunch today. Sausage and pepperoni pizza. Pear preserves on toast afterward. We did some some on a plywood sliding panel that'll be put at the end of the hall where the hall opens onto his and my step-mothers room so I can have some degree of privacy while I'm living there. My room opens onto the hall between their room and the great room. The bathroom is right across the hall from my room. I'll probably be there from six to twelve weeks after my recovery from the surgery.

The 80 column/64k memory expander card I've been waiting on came today. It's a five chip model that came out in the late 80's (two chips for RAM, two for text/graphics and one control). It's about the size of a credit card. It's now installed in my enhanced Apple IIe. The older card I had in there previously, a ten chip model from the early 80's (eight for RAM, two for text/graphics, one for control) has been installed in a IIe that was rescued from a school. I still need a drive controller, CP/M card and a standard keyboard for that one.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'll be heading out tomorrow about noon for Oakdale to get my pre-admission stuff out of the way. I likely won't be back until late afternoon or early evening.

I did some more work on the new disk drives today. I put a clear coat on the shells and they now appear to have a hammered finish. They look really good.

Well that's all for tonight. See y'all in the morning.

 

[Boris]

Joe,
Down here in the south, there are still many fallen flag cars running. We see them all the time here. Its very common to see "Southern", "SCL", "SP", and others. Many of these cars won't be approaching their 40 year limit for another 10 years. But, I am seeing many more cars for "NS", "CSX", etc, than I used to.

Not surprising, once I give it some thought. Have not been up close and personal with a freight train in at least five years. Friend just sent me a photo of the "last" Conrail painted loco, an SD50 I think, just before its retirement. So there are no more Conrail scheme locos on the NS, save the recent Heritage wide cab. For some reason, SP, SSW, SCL NW and Sou don't register with me as fallen flag railroads. I suppose there are still some CR coal hoppers and gonds running around on both CSX and NS, but they mostly stay on the property.

Back in 1985, I spent a week at a Mechanical Department sponsored training seminar in Altoona. It was a most interesting experience. I got to do - hands on - every function performed by a carman on Conrail, including burning, welding and disassembly / reassembly of a cushion underframe, and ride control truck. The highlight of the week, was to see first hand, the gondola assembly line at the Hollidaysburg Car Shop. Back then, they were building gondolas, buying hoppers and scrapping box cars.

Joe

 

[Boris]

Good luck Jeffrey, Hope all the pre-admit stuff goes well.

Joe

 

[Trussrod]

Hello Guys,
It been a trying three days, some time ago I noticed that the ground around the water spigot outside the back laundry room door seemed to be rather wet. I thought it was due to the hose dripping as the hose bib needs a new faucet washer but even though I layed the hose farther out from the faucet the ground still seemed to be be getting wetter. The weather was hot prior and I didn't want to get too involved but then the pit, 1'x2'x8"s deep, I had dug there a year back or so was filling up with water and then the ground was getting so wet I dug a drainage ditch to all most of the water to drain off.

So I shut the Well Pump of and for the last three days I've been diging down, about 12"s to try and determine where the problem lay. The old Galvanized pipe had compdletely rusted through in a few spots and was releasing volumnes of water so it needs to be replaced. So late this afternoon I managed to undo some very rusty pipe and will at least temporarily replace the water line so I again have water for taking a bath, the toilet and to water the lawn and bushes. At least the weather has been on the cooler side.

So that's what's detained me. Needless to say I'm fairly well beat so no RR'ing but I think I'll get back to it tomorrow as the temporary fix shouldn't take too long.

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

It's Thursday, August 8, 2013

Temperature in TIPTON IN

 

[railfan]

Not surprising, once I give it some thought. Have not been up close and personal with a freight train in at least five years. Friend just sent me a photo of the "last" Conrail painted loco, an SD50 I think, just before its retirement. So there are no more Conrail scheme locos on the NS, save the recent Heritage wide cab. For some reason, SP, SSW, SCL NW and Sou don't register with me as fallen flag railroads. I suppose there are still some CR coal hoppers and gonds running around on both CSX and NS, but they mostly stay on the property.

Back in 1985, I spent a week at a Mechanical Department sponsored training seminar in Altoona. It was a most interesting experience. I got to do - hands on - every function performed by a carman on Conrail, including burning, welding and disassembly / reassembly of a cushion underframe, and ride control truck. The highlight of the week, was to see first hand, the gondola assembly line at the Hollidaysburg Car Shop. Back then, they were building gondolas, buying hoppers and scrapping box cars.

Joe

One thing I really notice about some of the freight through Marion, other than container stack trains.....a lot of the conventional rolling stock in general is older and beat up looking.....especially box cars. And other than graffiti.......today's cars have minimal and small markings and logos, with painted over patches......not the rolling billboards of yesteryear.

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Good luck on the painting project Joe. yea cant have enough SW-1's

Nope, nor RS-1's....

Good Morning

Sunnier and a little less humid out today..high of 78 Feeling more like 84 later on.

Having a few friends come up for an operating session....get to run some trains today...then off to the diner for pulled pork sammiches!! Yay!!

Right now we are just sitting on our back deck overlooking what appears to be a wetland scenario...

Have a good day!!

 

[logandsawman]

I'll probably be there from six to twelve weeks after my recovery from the surgery.

I am glad you have somewhere to be during recovery. It is mind numbing how much stuff I worried about while my health was good. During times of illness, that (unwellness) becomes such an overriding factor that I would wonder how the other stuff would matter at all.

My grandpa used to say, "if you have your health, you have everything."

Got my suspension bridge painted yesterday and will string the rigging tonight. One more step in the bigger scheme of things.

logandsawman

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 81° with 78% humidity. It feels like 96°. The high will be 99° and will feel like 107°. Lots of sunshine today.

Nothing going on today except a trip to Oakdale to get a bunch of paperwork done and get any pre-op procedures out of the way.

Looks like it'll be good weather today and tomorrow but it appears the weekend might be a little bit wet.

No computer photo today. I wouldn't blame you if you're getting tired of those by now.

 

[Dr. John]

Another day in the low 90's with high humidity. Still, it's been a more moderate summer than recent years for Alabama so I can't complain. Busy week and looking forward to a day off.

 

[Trussrod]

Good afternoon Guys, I not too far from completing my temporary water hook up, I just need to finish cutting of the rusted end portion of a 10" piece of Galvanized pipe the is the second half of union connection and rethreading it so I can screw on the flexiable line between it and the mail line.

That galvanized pipe is pretty tough stuff though. I bought a very good bimetal band saw blade which cuts very good but in trying to cut the pipe it cut through a bit and they won't bite in anymore? Yet when I feel the teeth they still feel sharp. So I guess it the old hack saw and elbo grease! Oh, fun.


Talk with you all later.

 

[railfan]

Good afternoon Guys, I not too far from completing my temporary water hook up, I just need to finish cutting of the rusted end portion of a 10" piece of Galvanized pipe the is the second half of union connection and rethreading it so I can screw on the flexiable line between it and the mail line.

That galvanized pipe is pretty tough stuff though. I bought a very good bimetal band saw blade which cuts very good but in trying to cut the pipe it cut through a bit and they won't bite in anymore? Yet when I feel the teeth they still feel sharp. So I guess it the old hack saw and elbo grease! Oh, fun.


Talk with you all later.

Unexpected plumbing jobs are often not the most fun ever possible. Hope you can get back to trains soon!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Made it back from Oakdale in one piece. Everything with the prelim paperwork went well. Had blood tests done, got a chest X-ray, an EKG was done and we got the standard orientation about the upcoming surgery and the possible hazards about same. On getting back to Leesville we had dinner at Los Mayas Mexican restaurant. I exercised my God-given right as a son to embarrass his father in public and let the staff know that today is my fathers birthday. So they came out playing the guitar and plopped a large sombrero on his head while singing Happy Birthday in Spanish. My step-mother cracked up laughing and I had the pleasure of watching his face turn six shades of red while he just smiled like the kid who had just been given the keys to the candy store and the owner is on vacation. I have to back in Oakdale Monday morning at 7am for the start of the procedure.