Good morning!!!!

[buckeyefarmer]

Back in the '50s, Dad had an all lines family pass through CPR (Canadian Pacific Railroad), we took the train to Miami a few times for Christmas to see my grandparents (his Mom & Dad). The first trip was right from Toronto via TH&B (Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo RR) to New York Central to PRR (Pennsylvania Railroad), we changed trains at Baltimore and I've forgotten what we took from there to Miami. In those days I really loved train travel. The food was good, and the porters friendly. What more could you ask for?
My Grandparents would drive back to Toronto with us in their Packard. Up US1, no interstate highways then, or if there were my G-parents didn't take them. I have 8 mm film my grandmother (she was a photographer) took of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

What a neat trip. Would love to see some of the video.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Been on a few trains, but not long trips. In Europe went from Germany to France, Germany to Switzerland then Austria.
Some in UK. One in Netherlands.

Used to take Amtrak from Baltimore to NYC.

Been on several tourist railroads like Cass WV, some in PA, favorite was Durango Silverton CO.
Even did a tourist RR in England in the Lake District.

Would love to take a long train trip.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Yesterday got all the air plumbing done, PEX-A with expanded connections rather than crimp rings worked great, no leaks (in the PEX).

Do you have the expanding tool or rent / borrowed one?

My air lines always leak at the connectors. My basement air compressor been running more lately with nothing hooked up but a hose with nothing else attached.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

34° with some wet snow on way to work, no accumulation. Weekend snow forecast is gone, no snow in the 10 day.

Work caught up, boring day today. And I have so much work that needs done at home.

 

[RoyJackson]

Would love to take a long train trip.

So would I, if it was like in the 1950's!

 

[LouNY]

30 stops on this train, wish I hadn't looked. No wonder it takes almost five hours longer than their other train.
Everything is packed, hope they have a porter to help me with bags getting on and off train. Larger suitcase is pretty heavy with two bottles of wine
and other stuff in it. Still raining but turning over to snow.

will go to bed in NC tonight and wake up in Georgia.
I have no idea if Verizon mifi will work on train but will try.
unplugged a few small appliances out of habit and will turn heat down
of course after I unplugged the microwave I realized I needed to heat up my coffee...

packed my noise cancelling headphones and a back pillow.
and lots of masks and a test kit. sign of the times

The last I rode an Amtrak they had a built in WIFI service you could log into.

 

[PJSprog]

9°F and clear skies this morning, only going up to 20° today, then back down in the single digits again tonight. Wind chill this morning was -7°, and it sure felt like it. By Monday, we'll be back up in the low 50s. No precipitation in our forecast for the near future.

Some fun train stories here today. I've never had a train trip that wasn't a local transit train somewhere. I think I've probably been on the train that goes around DFW more than any other train, including our local Metro here in St. Louis. Seems like there was a few years that had me traveling a lot for work, and nearly everywhere I went had a transfer in Dallas that was on the other side of the airport.

 

[sodamo]

65°F and .54 inches rain

Haircut scheduled for first thing this afternoon. Then HD to exchange my mispackaged valve and other shopping before meeting up with BIL for dinner.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[PJSprog]

Leather gloves abrade, like human skin...gives one a chance to minimize damage to one's hands

Yes, yes they do, and I still have skin on my hands today because of that.

 

[ronjhall]

I have not been on many train ride. But most memorable was from Moscow Russia to a town about 200 K north of there in 1973. I and a fellow employee went there to install a tire balancing machine at a tire plant. We were sitting with our Russian guide/interpreter. Talking to each other. Within a few minutes we had people from all the train cars wanting to ask the Americans question. Like my brother lives in Detroit. Do you live close by. It was great to meet such friendly people while traveling in a foreign country. Trip seemed like 20 minutes. But was over 3 hours. Same thing happened on return to Moscow. There is more to the story. But that was the train ride.

 

[daugen]

The last I rode an Amtrak they had a built in WIFI service you could log into.

and it works! sort of
got off about ten minutes late, now sitting in Philadelphia train station for a while.
was snowing and miserable on way to station but got there early and fine.
They used to have a heated glassed in section down by the tracks, so fifteen minutes before train time I mosey on down, needing to use elevator. No heat, and train was now a little late, and by the time I dragged my suitcases all the way down the station, I was plenty glad to get in and warm.
my one suitcase is just too big for this room.
put my order in for the vegan lunch and that will come in a while. Very nice, well spoken staff.
As I was walking down station, she looked up and said Drew? yup

train is easing out of station now. I have a school board zoom meeting at 5pm and very curious if I can log in. Lot of head tossing at times in slow areas, likely due to crummy tracks.
Now if this was Europe....
Passing UPenn hospital, where my neck was operated on.
areas down by tracks in cities sure is ugly

 

[Popgadget]

Sounds like the PEX install went smoothly, Paul. Did you need a special crimp tool?

Yes, but it’s actually an expander rather than crimper. Looks like an exhaust pipe expander, but unlike steel, PEX-A returns to its original size in 15 seconds or so.

M12 FUEL™ ProPEX® Expander w/ 1/2"-1" RAPID SEAL™ ProPEX® Expander Heads | Milwaukee Tool

MILWAUKEE® M12 FUEL™ ProPEX® Expander unlocks a breakthrough in productivity for plumbing installers. Kit includes 3 expander heads, 1 expander cone grease, and a carrying case

www.milwaukeetool.com

 

[Popgadget]

I had customers in the railroad supply business, and would take them all over the country. They would often take me to the rail yards and repair shops with them. I enjoyed every second of it. Actually got to drive a locomotive in a switch yard, and go high wheeling in a suburban in Arizona.

 

[Popgadget]

Do you have the expanding tool or rent / borrowed one?

My air lines always leak at the connectors. My basement air compressor been running more lately with nothing hooked up but a hose with nothing else attached.

The the PEX is tight. I left the system pressurized overnight with the compressor off. Here’s the pressure reading before, and after about 18 hours.

Certainly not air tight, but pretty decent. I think the swivel in a hose reel is responsible for that drop.

 

[Popgadget]

I borrowed the expander from a friend. I was tempted to buy my own, but I don’t do enough PEX work, except when I’m with him anyway.

 

[toppop52]

I think that was a good idea, but in the usual Texas heat, even that helmet was a considerable discomfort. I still occasionally see someone on a motorcycle wearing shorts. At least I never did that.

I rode many miles in shorts and on some pretty fast bikes. Not smart I know, youth often trump’s common sense.

 

[usmron]

Just thought I'd start a Good Morning thread. Dry, and headed into the low 60's here in S. Michigan. Have a good one!!

This morning in Central Mississippi it is 38 degrees and tonight will be 26 with the wind chill down to 13.

 

[rswyan]

22F and snow flurries @ 13:30, temps will continue to fall throughout the day. Snow was coming down pretty good a bit ago. Only calling for a high of 22F tomorrow.

Moved car up to the top of the drive up by the shed yesterday, to avoid any problems with it getting up the hill now that it's iced up. A little more snow will probably help to provide better traction.

Possibility of a trip out today for groceries.

Hopper feeder needs refilled.

Rode the train down to the farm with Grandma when I was very young. Was excited by the prospect of it, but was less enthused by the time the trip was over.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable, productive, and safe day ...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Passing UPenn hospital, where my neck was operated on.
areas down by tracks in cities sure is ugly

Wait till you see Baltimore along the tracks. Course it depends on how they route you thru town.
You will pass near me at work. Tracks not very far from me, right after the BWI station. At least I think you will go that way.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

This morning in Central Mississippi it is 38 degrees and tonight will be 26 with the wind chill down to 13.

Welcome usmron