The Hobo Camp Fire Is going well #X.. Stop In!!!

[FiatFan]

Greetings, gang.

It's a sun filled morning in the remote reaches of northern Iowa this morning. Currently 48 going to about 60 this afternoon with fairly light breezes.

Yesterday was a day of mostly rest. The only activity was to clean the grave sites for my wife and son. This morning I took my car to Des Moines for 100,000 servicing. It will be a little pricey but MUCH cheaper than a new car. They gave me a loaner but I really don't much care for it. I'll be happy to get my old car back tomorrow. This afternoon I'll probably gather some more leaves.

Gas was down again this morning - $2.52.

All stay safe.

Tom

[FiatFan]

Greetings, gang.

38 now maybe getting to the mid 60s this afternoon with less wind than yesterday.

I managed to pull off a really smooth move. Needed a loaf of bread so I took the pollution solution vehicle to the store and carefully locked it up. Made my purchase and when I came back to the bike I realized that the key for the security chain was on my key ring - which was in my car in the shop in Des Moines. Ooops! Walked home (about 3/4 of a mile) to get the spare key, only to realize that key had gone missing. Walked back to the store and explained might plight to a supervisor. Together we were able to lift the bike over the 8' pole. Today after I get my car back I'll be getting a spare key made. After that adventure I decided the leaves could wait for another day. Maybe today.

All stay safe.

Tom

[Charlie B]

Good morning
     Election day here and we just voted.  Our township wants money to repair the roads. I live on a township road but the won't maintain it, not even plow the snow. They get 15 bucks for every license plate issued to residents as well as the regular levy for rods. I am sure it will pas without our votes.

     It is a beautiful day, sunny and 50, probably hit 60.  I will cut some branches with my new $44 10 inch battery chain saw. It came wit 3 chains and 2 batteries. I used it yesterday and it works like a charm.  

     I am waiting for some tools so I can make some decent handrails for some of these locomotives. I am missing some on some of my old BB Ahearn's and some of the new models that look prototypical until you touch them removing them from the box. For the price they could be metal, not cheap unglueable plastic. 
Grocery store later if my daughter does not come to take my wife. 

     Have a good day everyone.
Charlie

[sir james]

Thursday 11/6/25
Hello Blue

Sun this morning, was 33 when I got up. 52 for the day.
Boy what a night, the full moon done me in. I woke up necked on the neighbor's porch. 
It's happened before, so they wrapped me in a blanket and sent me home.
Skin doctor today, then lunch and Aldis.
S.J.

[TMo]

Mid 50's and as long as I was moving, a tee shirt was enough even with the breeze. Took the dog for a short hike before the bride and I went shopping for a replacement area rug. Got it home (prerolled) and the thing didn't look much like the smaller runner that advertised the pattern in the store. Going back probably tomorrow.

Doing a little maintenance on some locomotives. Still waiting on some online orders to start working on the ACME - may get back to work on the sewage treatment plant.

Weather's changing this weekend, cold front on the way. I'm still hoping for something to break free in the intelligent-free zone that is Washington, DC, and I'll be back at work shortly.

[LiveSteamer]

Good morning everyone. Well we woke up to the white stuff flying around and starting to lay on the ground. They are calling for it today and tomorrow. Guess it is finally that time of the year where we all get to stay inside and work on projects for our model railroads which I am not complaining at all about. I do have some errands to run today for the fiance since she had major dental surgery this past Thursday. I'm hoping the snow will stop flying here in a couple hours so I can go and get everything done that needs done. While I wait I'm going to continue working on the MT-4 Slug and a couple other projects that are on the workbench. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

[FiatFan]

Greetings, gang.

Sunny and 33 and that's about it for today. 50s for the next few days and 60s by the weekend. Looks like I had a few inches of snow while I was gone but it's mostly melted. The shady areas still have snow but that should melt pretty quickly and there are LOTS of leaves that came down while I was gone. Hopefully they'll dry out in the next couple of days so I can clean them up.

I left here Friday morning for a trip Jackson, MS. My great niece was in a stage play and had invited me down. Long but fun weekend. Arrived in Jackson around 2 on Saturday. Play on Saturday evening and I left again Sunday around 11. Arrived home around 11 this morning. Less than 24 hours in Jackson.

Fun fact - If you arrive at the south edge of St. Louis around 3:30 AM you can sail through without touching your brakes. When I went through on the way south on Friday afternoon around 2:30 PM and it was bumper to bumper 5 lanes wide at 60 MPH. I'm thinking -why aren't all these people at work!?

Lots of resting will occur today.

Gas was $2.69 when I arrived here.

All stay safe.

Tom

[tompm]

Good evening folks

Temperatures have dropped in the Delaware Valley. Currently it is 38 at 8 PM. Another 10 hour day at work which is why I am checking in late.

Friday was a wild day. I had to get a CAT Scan to see whether I had another hernia. It was with dye so I had to drink a quart of barium sulfate which I can describe as drinking vanilla flavored liquid chalk. I was also injected with dye. Things were going well until after dinner when the side effects kicked in. For the rest of the evening, it was a mad dash to the bathroom every 10 or 15 minutes. Around bedtime I had enough and risked a couple of Imodium pills.

Saturday was better but I was exhausted. We went to the post office, produce store, Kohl’s for some returns, and the grocery store. Sunday, we bummed around the house and did some cleaning and decorating for Thanksgiving. My son and daughter left on Saturday for a weeklong cruise. This means I am cooking again. My daughter does most of the cooking these days. The hardest part for me is cooking only for two.

I did get to run some trains on both Saturday and Sunday. I had to address a derailing issue with some older cars (15+ years old) The cars all had metal wheels with plastic axles. They kept derailing in the same area. I checked the track gage with my track gage. and it was good. Unfortunately, I could not find my NMRA gage tool to test the wheel gage. I changed out the wheels for new Walther’s 33-inch metal wheels and the derailing stopped. I also replaced McHenry couplers on a couple of cars.

I am hoping to get some more train running this evening. Hopefully I don’t encounter another round of derailing cars.

I hope everybody has a good day.

[ngauger]

Yup, What Tom said..... it's cold here!!!!

Tom, you still taking down the toll booths? or did you move on to something warmer?

[tompm]

Good afternoon folks

Tom, you still taking down the toll booths? or did you move on to something warmer?

Yes and it is brutal out there. Weather apps and my car say 41. I call bs. The wind is downright merciless.

I spent 3 hours this morning driving around checking construction signs. Everything was fine but down we are having issues with signs getting blown over.

I had to do some laundry last night and finishing the Thanksgiving decorations. I did not get a chance to run any trains. I am hoping for an opportunity to do so tonight.

I hope everybody has a good day.

[FiatFan]

Greetings, gang.

33 going to the mid 50s later on.

Yesterday was a day off from everything. I did go out last night and see the northern lights. Very cool. Today is lots of errand running.First stop will be Menards. The basket strainer on the kitchen sink has started to leak so I'll be replacing both of those. Then grocery shopping. After that I'll start on the leaves. Looks like it's gonna be a busy week.

All stay safe.

Tom

[ngauger]

Yeah Tom, this wind is horrible!

[tompm]

Good evening folks

Checking in late again. It was warmer but still chilly today. Currently it is 51 F. Very little wind today so it was as bad as yesterday.

I got home and we cleaned out one of the cabinets that had started to collect a bunch of junk.

My order from Yankee Dabbler finally came. For some reason it took them almost two weeks to get the order together and sent out. Since they are just across the river in South Jersey once UPS had the order it was here the next day. Mikey have you ever visited the shop? I keep promising myself that I will take a ride across the river and visit them.

I am adding the cars that came in the order to my inventory program. I hope to get downstairs to run some trains tonight.

I hope everybody has a good day.

[FiatFan]

Greetings, gang

35 under clear skies this morning with the NWS allowing us to get to the 60s for the next few days.

Shopping went according to plan yesterday along with some leaf gathering. I'll finish the leaf gathering today along with changing the oil on the car. Also need to replace the basket strainers on the kitchen sink. I may not get to those until tomorrow.

Gas is down to $2.62.

All stay safe.

Tom

[ngauger]

My order from Yankee Dabbler finally came. For some reason it took them almost two weeks to get the order together and sent out. Since they are just across the river in South Jersey once UPS had the order it was here the next day. Mikey have you ever visited the shop? I keep promising myself that I will take a ride across the river and visit them.

Drove by it once.... but never went there.
My friend has, he says not much large scale trains, like any other hobby shop.