Running Bear's November 2025 Coffee Shop

[TLOC]

Our tree is staying under the basement stairs this year (just like last year). Now that the holiday family gatherings are set for "clubhouses" at either our condos (summer) or Sis-in-Law's (weekend after Xmas) so we don't get the daughter and her boyfriend visiting. No need to spend the energy on the tree. If a grandkid ever comes along (doubtful) that may change.

As for the family gathering this weekend, my sister in South Haven Michigan wants to host. But, it's looking like near blizzard for most of Michigan from Sat to Sun. I'm not driving in that YUCK if it happens. We're in the maybe 6-10 inch band by late Sunday. Still not driving in it.
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the weather guesser is Ryan Hall, Y'all. Good weather coverage on youtube. He's cautious in his predictions, and the above graphic came with the warning that we're still over 100+ hours out from Sunday, so things may change. But he was confident the great lakes area is getting snow of some sort this weekend.

And look, you cannot even see Wisconsin! It’s under the purple. The dire warnings are out before our government has a chance. The OPS session scheduled 2.25 hours away in excellent weather has already been cancelled for Saturday. It’s called the Anti-turkey session and has been held the Saturday after T-giving for 22 years and this is the 1st cancel! We wisconites can pretty much drive in any snow. But coupled with high winds even the idiot drivers can’t drive. I know the 2 chauffeurs I go with already said this morning that it might be too tough to go…

 

[Bruette]

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good morning! It's Thursday, 27°F and partly cloudy. Have a good day!

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning, and happy Thanksgiving. It's cloudy and 64.

 

[Bruette]

We will be on the road soon headed to Elkton Maryland. My friend I have known for too many years to count has invited us to have Thanksgiving dinner with him and his family.

My wife is so excited to finally be able to see the entire Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Which is why we will be leaving so soon.

We wish Everyone the happiest of Thanksgivings!

 

[BigGRacing]

Happy Thanksgiving to all our US friends.

 

[Kusojiji]

All, safe travels and have a good T-bird day.

 

[BigGRacing]

I was surprised to find out that some of these are still around. JNR freight still has a few. I know not the same as the real thing, but for a quick fix:

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Is that Hogwarts in the background or a different castle?

 

[Kusojiji]

Neuschwanstein Castle from Danbury Mint. (had to look underneath to get the spelling right!)

 

[BigGRacing]

Neuschwanstein Castle from Danbury Mint. (had to look underneath to get the spelling right!)

That and the engines look great!

 

[NorthBrit]

THOUGHT FOR TODAY
If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake.

 

[NorthBrit]

Good morning all
A safe journey if you are travelling.
It is raining.
A coffee on the go please, Flo.

 

[NorthBrit]

A question for my friends across the pond.
Friends this side are asking.

Are cabooses still being used?
If not when did they become obsolete?

 

[santafewillie]

A question for my friends across the pond.
Friends this side are asking.

Are cabooses still being used?
If not when did they become obsolete?

For the most part, they were eliminated in the late-80's to early 90's. But a few are still used today, mainly on reverse transfer runs and oversized loads.

 

[bnsf971]

A question for my friends across the pond.
Friends this side are asking.

Are cabooses still being used?
If not when did they become obsolete?

The state of Virginia had a law that required cabooses, that law expired in the mid 1980s. After that, cabooses were stored and scrapped en masse, with many being sold to individuals or companies/museums for really cheap prices.
The relatively few cabooses remaining on the railroads have been stripped of equipment, and are used by local crews during long reverse movements of trains. They are now called "shoving platforms".

 

[Kusojiji]

That and the engines look great!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them!

 

[NYC_George]

Besides cleaning up all the tools in every room but one today. I'm starting my 2nd shelve-bridge display project. Everything will have lights at some point, bridges, signals, engines, cabooses etc. Swal

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew from USA’s Thanksgiving Day or in some places football Thursday. Whatever you call it, even if it’s just Thursday in your neighborhood be happy and give thanks for what you have.

It’s just Terry, me and a 10# turkey today. The daughter’s family is off to his mom and stepdad’s place outside of Milwaukee. It’s about a 90 minute drive so they will leave around 10am. This is maybe the 2nd time we’ll be alone for Thanksgiving. Since 2008 after mom passed the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations just have seemed off but Terry mentioned it last night that this one really feels strange. We’ll survive as we will talk to the brother in Hawaii, the sister in Pasadena, the son in Austin and the daughter’s family will stop to say hi around 9:30 this morning or 8 this evening.

It’s a Swing bridge and approach bridge day for me. Weathering will commence and I’m looking forward to it. I’m still without my portable compressor here at the house and I’m not taking these bridges to the daughter’s studio to use the spray booth there. I will hand brush the weathering and I might use the oils. Not sure because they take so long to dry.

I finished off the last of 6 diesels to be weathered yesterday morning and billed my client via PayPal as always. Been using the PayPal id for years with this guy and it was returned as unknown! Texted him last night and same thing unknown error message. Only had that happen one other time and it turned out that guy’s wife found the money he was hiding for his trains. He left his laptop open and the wife cleaned it out and cancelled the PayPal account. They later divorced but he made good with me. Not sure on this one so I’ll wait for him to contact me. Not nervous yet.

Thats it from here. The turkey will be eaten later than a normal T-Giving. The NFL moved the 1st game that has been at 12:30 Eastern, 11:30 Central forever to the normal Sunday starts times of 1 Eastern and noon Central. Turns out the networks said there was too big a gap between game 1 and 2. Another tradition gone

Be well

 

[NorthBrit]

For the most part, they were eliminated in the late-80's to early 90's. But a few are still used today, mainly on reverse transfer runs and oversized loads.

The state of Virginia had a law that required cabooses, that law expired in the mid 1980s. After that, cabooses were stored and scrapped en masse, with many being sold to individuals or companies/museums for really cheap prices.
The relatively few cabooses remaining on the railroads have been stripped of equipment, and are used by local crews during long reverse movements of trains. They are now called "shoving platforms".

Thank you, gentlemen for your answers.

I shall pass the information on.

 

[troyphoto]

And look, you cannot even see Wisconsin! It’s under the purple. The dire warnings are out before our government has a chance. The OPS session scheduled 2.25 hours away in excellent weather has already been cancelled for Saturday. It’s called the Anti-turkey session and has been held the Saturday after T-giving for 22 years and this is the 1st cancel! We wisconites can pretty much drive in any snow. But coupled with high winds even the idiot drivers can’t drive. I know the 2 chauffeurs I go with already said this morning that it might be too tough to go…

We haven't had a snow that sticks to the roads yet, so it's still Idiot-Season here in the lower midwest.

Four wheel drive must mean four wheel STOP, right? And Four Wheel Flip! And four wheel donuts...

I always hate driving on the winter holidays. So we're in the "Probably not coming" phase for Saturday.