The Daily Moose

[ginzokid]

Here is a link to Bar Mills Models on-line newspaper and information station. Art has 4 new on-line videos that you might find interesting. The first two are about Bar Mills Models itself. The next two are instructive videos. One on different types of glues and their use and the other on the new Bar Mills weathering powders. There are also pictures of some of the kits available. Enjoy. http://barmillsmodels.com/dailymoose_05A_05.html

[dl85vette]

DOne of my orientation today. I'm off til sunday when we head out sunday evening to Brandon. Working on the Saskatchewan side of the border for 4 days. Then home for 3. Not sure what it will be like away all the time like this, but I get mileadge and X dollars/day for food. And then get near max rate for unemployment over the winter until called back in the spring. I don't think there are any guys out there struggling to make ends meet. If it was that horrible of a job, they'd always be filling these spots. Anyhoo I have my nice hardhat with CP Rail beaver logo so I'm now a genuine, bonafide railroader.

[ginzokid]

I want to see a picture of that hat with you under it Dave. :^O

[dl85vette]

I'll get the wife to take a picture when I head out sunday eve. Just won't be posted until next weekend. Thanks for the warning! ]:) -- Edited by ginzokid at 04/24/2010 2:45 AM PDT

[dl85vette]

I'm back from Saskatchewan. I survived the first week in the RR world. Not sure what to think. Shoveled a lot of dirt too. E

[g-pa1]

There is an hour show on the History channel the program is called Modern Marvels about the history of the freight train. I found it pretty interesting. Try to catch it if you can. -- Edited by g-pa1 at 05/05/2010 7:36 PM PDT

[dl85vette]

the topic of not wearing red. Found out last week but may have forgtten to spread the word. Red is the color for STOP. (ie: flags, lights) So if you were standing trackside with red shirt and standing still, engineer would see red and would stop his train. (i'm guessing they don't really try differentiate the circumstance, they just see red, they stop with out questioning)

[barrysfp45]

so what did I say about red, remember I used to be an engineman. ]:) Yeah, Barry used to stop the train for every blinking red light over the doors of many Wicked Wanda's.... ]:) -- Edited by ginzokid at 05/07/2010 4:35 AM PDT

[dl85vette]

Back home for the thurs night-sunday weekend. Still working in Brandon. Building a new signal location. Ran cable this week. Miserable stuff to work with...thick cable, heavy, few hundred feet long. Still got a &%^$%$ sore back. Everyday isn't like this but wondering if this was the smartest career move. Reserves position would have been pretty consistent and mundane but worst that happen would be a paper cut. and home every night.

[ginzokid]

You have to start somewhere Dave, usually at the bottom. So maybe this is some sort of "hazing" and they are just trying to see if you have what it takes to stick it out. I'll bet there is less "politics" than in the service. B-) True enuf Pete on several points. Not a hazing...just a job needing to be filled. I'm hoping supervisor will get a word for me on a couple of technician spots opening up soon due to retirements.(work in a shop for the most part fixing stuff, take a laptop to a crossing to check its functionality. the 2 positions are in the 'peg shop and pays more again. Definately won't be upgrading to a maintainer..They get 'posted' to crappy areas/small towns to maintain a district. On duty 24/7 for 11 days, 3 days off, on duty again 11 days.. As long as you're a maintainer. All the money in the world isn't enuf. After being in military, why would I want to move, again, then to a crappy area and have no life. F### that! -- Edited by dl85vette at 05/16/2010 7:08 AM PDT

[dl85vette]

Where is everyone?Been awfully quiet here lately.

[barrysfp45]

We've been waiting for you to say something. ]:)

[dl85vette]

I know I haven't been too active. Been adjusting to my work schedule. Head out of town sunday evenings and work Mon-Thurs and return home thurs evening. Get Fri-Sun off. Since starting, the first few weeks have been busy when home as a lot of catching up to do, mow grass, change winter tires on truck,etc. Now it feels like I'm on track. Got a couple weeks work in city here so Get to sleep in my own bed at night. Between yesterday and so far this morning, it has been thunder/lightning and raining like a wh#re. Never seen heavy rain like this for quite some time. Haven't been doing any model RR'ing since working for RR but doing plastic models instead. Built a BMW 1200RS bike and trying to finis a Honda R-something superbike (race bike). Been laying the color coats on fairings yesterday and this am. RR work is a drastic change in my life. Lot of heavy labor, different mentallity for supervisors than inmilitary (definately felt like more professional environment in airforce.) I may not have a long career in RR. They have a wireman course but then you would have to move to whatever location (mostly small towns) and I refuse to move. (one reason why I retired from military) I just want to finish the season,get laid off and then draw unemployment cheques over the winter. spend the winter doing indoor renos to house and all the modelling I want. I won't return in spring to do this work, I'll be another year older then and who wants to dig holes and run cables forever? Plus work with guys half your age? I'm 4 years older (40) than the foreman even. SOme days aren't so bad. Change from some of the BS I had in military.

[ginzokid]

I haven't been active at all in my own basement since I have been helping my new buddy with his layout. It's not fair is it. He calls, sounds desperate, and I go running over. It's only five minutes from my house which is good, but I have to get back to my own layout soon. So Dave, are you just going to retire at such a young age or look for something else? How about a full time sales job at the LHS. Doesn't pay much I know, been there etc., but it's fun. I made several contacts there and built small layouts for customers at a great profit to me actually. Ever think of doing that? Wish it would warm up a bit. We are still in our winter clothes while the rest of Canada is baking. Even Labrador is warmer than Newfyland!!!! And Barry is headed into winter...... ]:)

[dl85vette]

hell Pete. I wish I could retire, but my house is not paid for so my military pension goes only so far towards the bills. To float the household, I need more than just a 10 buck/hr job. Let me rephrase that, I don't want to just barely get by. I want the extra income to have cash left over after bills paid. (family/house emergencies, money to invest, vacation, truck repairs or some day, a replacement.) Luckily even as security guard, I was able to continue my allotment into mutual funds. straight forward stuff right? -- Edited by dl85vette at 05/29/2010 7:55 PM PDT

[ginzokid]

I'm fortunate in that our house is paid off and Kim is still working. Therefore my little OAS payment, only $106 per month since I have only been in Canada for 10 years, can go toward the hobby. However, when Kim retires at the end of this year our income will be cut in half. Granted our expenses will be less, no burning gas to go to work, etc., but we will still have to watch our loonies and toonies. Over the years we have amassed a small nest-egg that we will probably have to dip into. Our philosophy is "we are spending our grand-children's inheritance". Such is life. B-)