Good Morning All. 78° and clear. Clouds rolled in yesterday keeping the temperature well below the forecast high of 100°, maybe we'll get that lucky again today. Otherwise, we're looking at upper 90's to lower 100's for at least the next ten days. Grocery/beer trek went well yesterday, Kroger had the Samuel Adams "Octoberfest" seasonal beer in stock, which is my second favorite beer after Heineken. It's a Märzen style lager traditionally served at Octoberfest. Duh!
Out in the train shed yesterday, I spent time cleaning up the recent construction zone and putting away tools that I will have to search for next time that I need them. Ran a few more freight trains back and forth on both tracks on the newly installed bridge, all without incident. In the process, I found a ground throw at a crossover leading up to the bridge that just barely rubbed the lower sides of well cars passing through that crossover. Clearances are tight there with an industry spur on the other side of the tracks, which precludes moving it over to that side. I will therefore replace it with an "N" scale throw which I have on hand. In reality, my operating scheme normally doesn't require expedited container trains to take a siding, but I will exchange it anyway. I also added some more fascia to the upper level.
I experimented cutting track with the Dremel on some scrap flex track as
Sherrel and
Greg suggested, but I didn't like the resulting width of the gap. It would probably work and was easy to do, but it looks ugly. I'll experiment with the hacksaw today. There's enough room at each end of the bridge to temporarily screw guide blocks in place if I go that route.
Garry/Greg - After spending most of 43 years in factory management, with several periods as acting Safety Manager, I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't have the proper safety gear on. We had dozens of saws cutting aluminum window parts all day and I certainly saw my share of eye injuries. I have safety glasses all over the place here, and use them anytime that I am using a motor (electric or gas) to cut or grind anything. Weedeater, tractor mower, hand saw, Dremel etc. Well except for the blender in the kitchen!
Louis - I liked the hot dog steamer also. I can't hear you on the music. I'm 40% deaf in both ears as a result of front row seats at too many Deep Purple, ACDC, or any number of other bands. I love the convenience of digital music. I have 75,000 mp3's, approximately 35,000 are on my IPod which I play through a docking station with speakers in the train shed...the ear buds only worsen my condition and the cord gets in the way. Hearing aids were the best purchase that I have made in the last ten years.
Mike - No artistic talent needed for sky, just blue paint. It's the clouds that throw me.
Have a great day everyone,
Karl says that it's Friday.
