Running Bear's Coffee Shop XLIX

[Cjcrescent]

Been down in the basement today and yesterday working on finishing up one loco in particular, so I can finish all the others and get them back to their owners. The one loco I have to finish is one that the owner has called everyday, and I do mean everyday, checking up on the progress.

Since I was sick most of the fall and up to a couple of weeks ago, I admit that I'm behind on these, but I have been making progress here and there. Maybe after I finish all this stuff, I can finally get back to my own stuff. I have 6 brass engines of my own, in various states of disassembly that I need to get back to. Add to that 2 MDC 4-6-0's that need new paint, an old American Loco company kit that I'm fitting a new mech to, as well as an old Bachmann Reading 2-8-0 that I have built and ran a Bowser mechanism for it.

I don't think that until all of my stuff is finished, will I take in any more paint jobs. And probably not even then.

Yall have a good day! I've really been enjoying everyone's pictures, both prototype and model.

Corey- Looking forward to seeing the pics of the changes made to your layout, and I sincerely hope that you don't have to move again, risking more damage to your layout.

I think that if I had to move, I would keep only my main yard. It is my favorite part of the layout, it will just be a beeoych to get apart into pieces easy to move.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Carey ... I hope your health stays okay for a long time. SOunds like you have quite a backlog of work.

Chet and others .... Here are old photos of a trip in 1957 on the Super Chief. I am sitting with my sisters in the Pleasure Dome. Image quality is not good, but you can see what it was like. Of course, people dressed up to travel in the 1950's.

 

[montanan]

Great pictures. Sure hope you got better looking as you grew up. I think I enjoyed the rail trip as much as what we did once we got to our destination.

You did dress up to travel back then, not like some of the slobs you see at airports today.

 

[bnsf971]

Good afternoon.
I have an interesting situation at the club I think I belong to.
Our club's dues are due by March 31. I have been way too busy to take the time off from work and drive to the clubhouse to present my payment for the dues. I have been ordered to return my key to the clubhouse, as well as all passwords and accounts for the club's website and Facebook page. Since I am, or was, the club's webmaster, as well as a member there for the last several years, I am surprised by these demands. Especially since everyone there knows I have been occupied by things that are going on with my family.
I was told that when I pay my dues, "they will probably let you back in to the club".
Wow.

 

[BigE]

Good afternoon.
I have an interesting situation at the club I think I belong to.
Our club's dues are due by March 31. I have been way too busy to take the time off from work and drive to the clubhouse to present my payment for the dues. I have been ordered to return my key to the clubhouse, as well as all passwords and accounts for the club's website and Facebook page. Since I am, or was, the club's webmaster, as well as a member there for the last several years, I am surprised by these demands. Especially since everyone there knows I have been occupied by things that are going on with my family.
I was told that when I pay my dues, "they will probably let you back in to the club".
Wow.

Yeah "Wow" indeed.
That almost sounds you've already been ousted given that final comment.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Do they not understand that? Ask them if there is an address that you can send it to. If there is no address you can send it to, like the treasurer's, IMHO you're better off not being in that club.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

GARRY, wonderful pictures. Amazing that your sister looks very much like my sweetheart in HS. Haircut is identical!

TERRY, when it rains, it pours! I think it was WC Fields who said, "Never give a sucker an even chance".
It must be your turn in the barrel?

 

[PRR Modeler]

Terry- If someone told me that with what has been happening with you I would say good riddance and if you want that stuff back feel free to come get it.

 

[bnsf971]

Do they not understand that? Ask them if there is an address that you can send it to. If there is no address you can send it to, like the treasurer's, IMHO you're better off not being in that club.

I had posted some stuff here, but I can't get the gist of what is happening into a single, coherent post. I will say this, and other incidents where I live, seem to stem from a resentment of outsiders, and an attempt to run them off.

 

[BigE]

I had posted some stuff here, but I can't get the gist of what is happening into a single, coherent post. I will say this, and other incidents where I live, seem to stem from a resentment of outsiders, and an attempt to run them off.

I can vouch for sure that kind of thing most certainly definitely happens in the western NC mountains. They [the Floridiots as we called them] came up to their vacation homes to live amongst us poor working Appalachian folks for the summer and left at the first cold night of the fall. I surely would not have bet that kind of thing happening way over in the eastern part of the state.

I guess I would just take my toys and go home.
E.

 

[bnsf971]

Eric, we are less than 50 miles from the mountains here.
It has been an ongoing thing, ever since we moved here. The stress of my wife's coworkers constantly stabbing her in the back, trying to get her to quit or get her fired, is probably one reason she had the stroke last Fall.

 

[BigE]

Terry,
I mean the remote mountains near the TN border where I lived. There are some serious backwoods folks there.
They are a very close and tight nit people with their own clans within clans.
50 miles west of you might put in near Hickory or Grandfather Mountain area. Now go two more counties west into Yancey.
Get off the main road (hwy 19) and go north about 7 miles towards Green Mountain and you'll be in my old stomping grounds.

Sounds like you all have never really been, or felt like being welcome there.
I never had any problem given my mid-west southernism, but my wife and many others did. They knew I was an outsider but figured I was some sort of alright country boy. My wife, being born and raised in the metro Atl. area never picked up a proper southern speak, so they had [rightfully] pegged her as some Atlanta-type city girl.

Be sure to get all your toys out of the "club-house" and let them keep their keys and passwords if they are going to be like that.

If I were to a start a "Palmer Valley Railroad" club, you could be member #3. I'd have to be #1 of course and Carey would have to be #2 since he's already substantially contributed without question. You'll always be welcome.
E.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Terry,
I mean the remote mountains near the TN border where I lived. There are some serious backwoods folks there.
They are a very close and tight nit people with their own clans within clans.
50 miles west of you might put in near Hickory or Grandfather Mountain area. Now go two more counties west into Yancey.
Get off the main road (hwy 19) and go north about 7 miles towards Green Mountain and you'll be in my old stomping grounds.

Eric ... As info. There is a guy from your area who posts in Jeffrey's trackside Diner in the Model Railroader Forum.

 

[Bruette]

Good morning everybody!

44 with clear skies in southeast Baltimore.

I have been extremely busy with helping my Mom move to an assisted living apartment only minutes from my house. She will be 83 in May and does not yet need assistance, but it's great to know it is there if and when she does. My Mom is a very independent person and I am so happy for her that she is able to maintain her independence.

Add to that the busiest week for little league baseball, uniform distribution, fund raisers due, opening day, parade set up and preparations. Not to mention practice!

I had no idea I could do so much with no ill effects to my fragile health, other then feeling like a rented mule and sleeping anytime I sit still!

I always tell my kids "Do your best and let God take care of the rest. If you do the right thing for the right reasons God will help you." It was nice to walk the walk, not just talk the talk for a change.

I have lots of catching up to do in the forum and I won't have time until after the weekend, but I will. I miss my train buddies! God bless you all, you are some of the greatest people I have ever met!

Two things I have to comment on!

Garry, great pictures, thank you for posting them! You and your sisters look like an article in Life magazine, great looking young people! What happened to you!

Terry, That is a classic case of "what have you done for me lately" No matter what you have done for people in the past, many only think about what you have not done today.
Ignorance fuels isolationists and they are undoubtedly jealous of you as well. I know you are a humble man and I don't mean to embarrass you, but the fact is you are one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable people I have ever come across. As I have often said you are "a walking encyclopedia". That in and of it self can be intimidating, especially to stupid people who think they are intelligent! Don't let them run you off.

As for the rest I will catch up as soon as I can.

Have a great day everybody!

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's clear and 46.
Friday evening, I have an appontment with one of the club's board of directors. To that meeting, I am bringing my checkbook, and my keys. Pending the outcome of that meeting, I will either give him my keys or a check for the dues.

In other news, I was given a head-up to an etailer called halfprice hobby. They specialize in oddballs and closeouts they can get a super good price on. I browsed their shop and bought a Walthers U30B with Tsunami sound for $120. The only drawback is the road, WP geen with orange lettering. When it gets here, I'll run it through the shops, and post a video of it, as well as let all y'all know if I have any issues with condition or shipping.

 

[tootnkumin]

Good afternoon.
I have an interesting situation at the club I think I belong to.
Our club's dues are due by March 31. I have been way too busy to take the time off from work and drive to the clubhouse to present my payment for the dues. I have been ordered to return my key to the clubhouse, as well as all passwords and accounts for the club's website and Facebook page. Since I am, or was, the club's webmaster, as well as a member there for the last several years, I am surprised by these demands. Especially since everyone there knows I have been occupied by things that are going on with my family.
I was told that when I pay my dues, "they will probably let you back in to the club".
Wow.

That is a strange message to receive, almost like a phishing email from a bank (which there's a good chance you don't have an account with) telling you your account's been frozen. How do you return a password etc. Surely if someone else has taken over the webmaster's position it would only be necessary for them to change it to prevent you having access. Maybe it's someone's idea of an April 1 joke that got held up in the "cloud".

 

[Milwaukee Road 113]

Greetings everybody!

Great pics...

My latest investments....



Sorry for making it short and sweet, starting to doze of here....lol...anyway, the N&W rule book is from the same year as me, '69 and the Milwaukee Road one (only 13 pages, but I don't mind, we like '13', don't we Louis? lol) is from '46...

It's a nice and sunny day here in Glasgow, UK...

Wish you all a lovely day!

 

[bnsf971]

It sounds like I have been relieved of my position, which I took only because everyone else refused to do it.

They have had several members that were months, if not years, in arrears with their dues, and nothing was ever said or done. Maybe they have decided to make an example of me, or they have decided to use the club bylaws to force me to quit. I can hear those bits of gossip whispered now: "He refused to follow our rules, and we kicked him out"!...
I have been getting similar treatment from several persons at my job. One guy carefully examines everything I do, and absolutely any deviation from what he considers the right way to do something results in him running to the front office to report my errant behaviour.

That is a strange message to receive, almost like a phishing email from a bank (which there's a good chance you don't have an account with) telling you your account's been frozen. How do you return a password etc. Surely if someone else has taken over the webmaster's position it would only be necessary for them to change it to prevent you having access. Maybe it's someone's idea of an April 1 joke that got held up in the "cloud".

 

[Boris]

Good morning. 40°, and sunny this morning, going to the mid 50s. Where did the spring temperatures go?

I go to the Doc's this morning, my regular quarterly visit.

Garry: Cool photos from the Super Chief.

Louis: A friend who retired several years before I did, used to come back and visit. He had numerous health problems. He believed that in order to stay healthy, he had to keep "moving", and active.

Terry: I know some clubs are extremely formal and rigid in their policies, [which is why I'm a lone wolf]; but.... this almost sounds like a corporate dismissal process. I have to agree with Louis, sounds like a lot of resentment and jealousy. Closed minded people are the same, no matter where you are, whether the mountainous stretches of Western NC, or the sandy shores of New Jersey.

Have a good day.

 

[montanan]

Good morning all. 45 degrees and rain this morning.

TERRY - Good luck with the meeting. Although I don't belong to a clun as there are none in my area, I have experienc with a few different clubs and this really sounds ridiculous. Politics I guess.

I used to help out the model railroad club in Great Falls Montana during state fair. Their rent for the space for their layout is to have an open house and trains operating during State Fair. For a number of years I was able to take a trip up there (180 miles) and bring some equipment and help them out. This was a great bunch of people and in fact I was given member status for helping them out when they needed help. Many of the members didn't have layouts and the club was the only place that some of the member could operate. They encouraged new members and people new to the hobby to join in. This was back in the early to mid 80's. The club is still alive and well. I do keep in touch with some of the members. I have never heard of any problems like this at all with this club.

I also visit withsome model railroad friends in Missouri and have visited 2 clubs layouts down there and again they were very friendly and enjoyed having visitors. A lot of the members were helping out young modelers new to the hobby. Again, many did not have a layout at home and the club was the only place they could run their equipment. I never heard a bad work about either club.

It sounds like some people in you club sure have their panties in a bunch. The few clubs I have had experience with sound totally different.
Good luck. Let us know what happens. I'll be out of town this weekend for a bowling tournament but will be checking in on TapTalk to keep up with what's going on. Just don't take any crap from them.