Good evening.
Everybody .... Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers regarding my model railroad friend, Dan. I just received a text from his wife, and he improved this afternoon. He was able to walk 640 steps. I was pleased to hear that.
MLC .... Is that photo of the signal on the P&L? ... By the way, since we are only about 50 to 60 miles apart, we should meet sometime.
On the layout, I am working on scenery beneath the bridges.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Garry,
That is the new signal on the P&I (CN/IC) at Central Ave in Paducah. ( I am standing on Central looking towards Pines Rd. ) They just replaced them a few months ago with LED now they are constant lit instead of apprach lit. They are bright. I can see the reflection of them on the crossing signals from a block away.
This was all to bring the P&I up to PTC standards, they put in the pTC equipment and antennas as well. They also added a switch heater.
Maybe sometime we can meet up. I can road trip.
Good evening all.
Zoe - Just a RBF please. Thanks.
Ulrich - Neat color to that sunset pic!
Garry - Glad that Dan is doing well.
Oldschool - Sorry that the puppy is not feeling well.
Ken - I know how you feel... I sold $35.00 today... For the whole day... Merchandise wise, not spiff wise... OUCH! (So I got less than $1 today!) Glad I get hourly plus commission and spiffs....
YGW - Most likely will happen sometime next year now, as some issues cropped up.
Trouble was, 3 years ago, we were going to move to a different location nearby, so the layout was partially dismantled, but then that house purchase fell through due to the realtor not passing on our offer... She expected a higher offer, and we found out from the owner that he never got our offer, or any others through the realtor, but ours was inline (actually just higher) with the actual appraisal value. He eventually took the house off the market, and just rented it out to someone else. (That realtor being greedy cost herself a commission, and a sale. Cost the homeowner a sale too...)
We then kept looking, but the layout never got fully reassembled. We have now decided, to stay on our property we have, and will just be building a new house on it.
Our current house needs some major repairs, and is not worth the money needed to do so. (Floor beam cracked, wiring needs redone, and a few other issues.) It has been around for quite some time, as doing some remodeling years ago we found newspapers from the 1880's in the one wall. So, while it has lasted through some major events, it is showing its age. (A couple of minor earthquakes, and a near miss by a EF4 tornado back in 85'.)
Now, it's a matter of making the financials work.
Layout - So, I have got the yard back in, and most of the mainline is back down. I'm tired of no trains running! Will be getting at least enough down to run the mainline, and back trains into and out of the yard. (4X10 loop gets boring, but it's something!)
Weather - Damp, warm, and humid. Windy too.
W*%k - Yep - I guarded the store front today!
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
We had another good day railfanning Saturday morning. Caught 11 trains in 4 hours.
2 coal
1 crude oil
1 trash
3 mixed freights
3 intermodal
1 grain train
The only foreign power was on the grain train which had 2 Canadian National engines, with 1 still in BC Rail paint. The grain train was also interesting as it had 4 engines leading with 2 helpers bringing up the rear. Helpers aren't very common where we go & this might be only the 3rd or 4th time over the years I've seen them.
Woke up early this morning & got started outside by weeding the flower beds, trimming the hedges, & cutting both the front & back yard. Actually, I think I over did it, as I don't feel all that great this afternoon. Someday it's going to sink in that I'm not in my teens anymore. Hope everyone had a nice weekend.
Spent some time chatting with 2 other fellows who railfan at our location. It's always nice to spend some time with them as they are really nice guys. There are others who come around from time to time, but they don't seem interested in becoming acquainted with others. Too bad, as they probably know things I would like to learn about.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Hey diners,
Tom/ anyone- I envy you guys who railfans during the weekend.
It rained a little bit yesterday at 10 o'clock last night. It's supposed to rain tomorrow so we will see.
I finally ran my Conrail U23B DCC locomotives, they ran very smoothly.
I cleaned the area of my room up. It was disorganized of freight cars, locomotives, automobiles and etc. Placing them back in their appropriate boxes and containers.
I'm waiting for summer to be over. I'm getting tired of getting bloody noses almost every single day.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Good afternoon ...
MLC ... I've noticed signals are being upgraded on other railroads too. .... We'll have to figure out some time for meeting. .... Normally, the three of us show our layouts when people visit from out of town. ... Of course, Dan's Union Pacific is not in opeation for the time being. Gus's Illinois Central is very nice layout too. ... Bill from Paducah (Classic Trains and Ferrari's) has been here in his Ferrari.
Ken ... Last year or so, you mentioned you would like to visit also. Maybe some day.
Ricky .... Thanks for your thoughts about Dan.
Tom ... Sounds like a good day for railfanning.
Angel .... I'm glad the U23B's are good runners.
Happy Model Railroading
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent and I will have a please. Give Rick a Rootbeer Float as well.
Yet another wasted day at work with a whole $75.00 is sales!
Did get the front yard cut and the weather has been great! Today high was a whole 77 degrees and it was Beautiful outside! Heck I would not have went shopping if I was off!
Rick Hope you can live on your base pay, I cannot not. Well I could live, just no roof over my head! That is the problem with any commision based job. I am good at getting the deal if I have customers. But need more than 2 a day.
Gary You and Ed are still on the so called Bucket List! (where did that name even come from anyway?) If I recall you are about 275 miles from me, my zip is 62062 if you want to check. Maybe next year after I take early SS retirement. Yea, I will still have to work but it will be on my terms not the paycheck.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Ken ... The distance is about 225 miles.
cudakenGary You and Ed are still on the so called Bucket List! (where did that name even come from anyway?)
It was a movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, about two guys who were in the hospital dying, and they decided to go out swinging, doing really fun stuff before they "kicked the bucket." If you've never seen it, do so.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hello everybody .
Lion... That is a clever photo. By the way, a Lion would not drink and drive but a Tiger Wood.
I'm continuing to work on scenery on the layout.
Cheers.
Hey all
My computer went caput. It has died and I have been waiting on the office to get one out of the ole yunk yard and get me running again. Real pain posting from the phone.
Hopefully this will be ready tomorrow.
Till then hope everyone is healthy, having a great day and I will TTYL
YGW
Afternoon Diners,
Thanks for the comment, Garry.
YGW- I hope your computer works tomorrow.
LION- That was a very good picture. What job does he do?
We were expecting rain two days ago, but now the weather say no. Another hot 108 day.
While I was walking, I think about my layout. The old track plan that was designed for a door can easily be redesigned. Again why change the business that was on that siding. I will keep the refrigeration warehouse building can be also include insulated boxcars.
Hi Gang,
Haveb't been in for a while as I am in the same boat as YGW. The Puter quit working and I guess I'm do for a new one. No, I'm buying a rebuilt one I have decided, but well upgraded. I won't have it for a couple of days, so I'll still be off line.
Thought before I go home from work tonight I should check in and tell you what is happening. And that's about it, haven't got to the layout for a week or better, just been so darn busy. I really do think that a permanent retirement is in order before long.
Anyway, hope you are all doing well. Good to hear Dan is up walking.
Keep the shiney side up.
Johnboy out.......................for awhile.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Heartland Division CB&Q Lion... That is a clever photo. By the way, a Lion would not drink and drive but a Tiger Wood.
Some people would say that could lead to a sand trap!
All these people mentioning computers dying reminded me of what happened to mine a few days ago. When I started it up, the machine decided to give me a black screen with white text. A diagnostic screen. Considering how many other problems my laptop has at the moment, I got very worried. However, about 15 minutes or so, it started up just fine.
Hobby Front: Working on yet another caboose. Only three more to go. (One of which is sitting on the floor next to the couch. That caboose even helped me to help another modeler on a different site wanted to model a similar caboose.)
Evening Folks
Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent and I will have a please.
Hard to belive it all most July! It is 63 outside and I just powred up the space heater! Today was a beauty with a high of 77 degress!
Work Front Not a single customer came in the store! Well to teenage girls came in wanting to know about the help wanted sign I have up. All I can say was one had hot pants on and looked great in them, the other one had a couple things I admire on a female.
Blood Suragr Far from being great, but 81 when I got up, 157 at 1:15 and 120 at 9:00 PM.
Gary Do you know if there are any pet friendly Motels / Hotels near you? With Sparkie being a resue dog and getting him from a kennel there no way I would board him! Plus being blind and deaf it it is out of the question.
Trains are running great! Running the Might CB&Q's pulling the Ed Ball Express, Might B&O F7's and the Bahmann sound value F7's. Have yet to clean any engine wheels after using ATF on the rails in Febuary!
Good morning, everybody ...
Ken... Actually, I do not know which motels or hotels allow dogs. Also, the state parks might allow them. ... Most of the hotels are at exits along I-24 including our little town. There are some in Murray also.
Cheers, everybody.
Morning diners,
Ken- I know of three hotels that will allow pets. The Merriott, Motel 6 and Best Western. I remember the best western because we drove across country with our dog Murrey at the time.
Where is Lion ?
The news is reporting a subway train derailed in New York City, and I thought of our pal, Lion.
Hello all
Crazy busy at w**k. To much going on and still short people. Local paper is still looking for plumbers with a $5000 sign on bonus. Amazing I thought with taht kind of money being thrown around they would have filled the position the first day. I guess the shortage of skilled workers is worse than i thought !
Johnboy - Hope your computer problems get fixed soon
Angel - The computer is in the repair shgopo. I am using a borrowed puter
Ken - My son is in sales also and there is construction right in front of his location which has basically put a halt to traffic. He has turned to Facebook and craigslist to help supplement his tarffic and he has improved his closing by about 50% which has helped him stay afloat. DO you use social media at all ?
Ricky W - Some times when one gets to greedy like the sales agent you mentioned they loose everything that was not smart on her part !
Moe Larry - That is one neat photo !
Ulrich is it still raining there ?
Hello to all the rest of ya - Garry, Homus, Lion Yannis, Der etc....
TTYL
Afternoon Diners
Flo, Brent, Jan, Ed and I will have a please.
Not a great day off. Spent little over a hour at the Vet so Sparkie The Rocket Dog could get his shots. Seems the Vet had a cat before us that could not pee. She was able to get the cat to pee and the Vet got hosed! Took her around 45 mintues to get cleaned up.
Did the rest of my running and after I got home felt like Ash Pitt.
YGW Well the company is on Craigs List, Face Book and we have a Web Site. But there are no prices, people want to be able to shop on line and with out a dollar amount? What iteams we do have prices for, well we don't want to sell the junk and the customer won't buy the junk.
Angelo Thanks for the Tip!
Gary Any of the motels Angelo half way close by?
Galaxy Thanks for the Chicken Skin tip. Just BBQ 5 thighes and no flare ups! Hope you find time to drop by, we worrie about you.
BBQ is done and so am I.
Ken
Howdy .
Ken .... Those hotels are not in this town. Super 8 is in town and on the internet, they say they are pet friendly.
Speaking of trips.... I'm going to Cincinnati tomorow. My wife will be with familiy there. On my way to Cincinnati I will stop in Lexington to visit my friend, Dan, in the hospital. My wife and I will head back via Louisville where we will stop to take care of some stuff. ... I will drive a total of 700 miles over the two days.
I was going to say the Super 8 up by Garry says it is pet friendly.
But Garry beat me to it.
Good Afternoon!
After a couple of hours of sunshine this morning, it has started to rain again. There is no end in sight, so this will be one of our usual wet summers. Not a pretty perspective.
Petra and I have withdrawn completely from outside life. The only time we leave the apartment is to restack the food supply. The only people calling us are my MIL and our son, once a week. No other social contacts. Needless to say this does not lift me up.
If you are interested in some odd railroad line, then let me present the Austrian narrow gauge line from St. Poelten to the pilgrimagr of Mariazell. It´s a 55 mile 2 1/2 ft. gauge, electrified line built in 1907 to haul the hords of pilgrims to the Mariazell monastery. Traffic increased so drastic in the years follwing, that only 4 years later, the line was electrified. Up until recently, the original set of electric locos, though modernized in the late 1960´s, were in service. In 2013, they were replaced by ultra-modern EMU´s and the line lost a lot of its imperial Austrian charme.
The following video shows the line prior to the completion of the modernization:
... and thois one shows the line as it is today:
The new electric railcars are named "Himmelstreppe", which translates into "stairway to heaven".
Enjoy!
Lunch time !
Hello all , uh wait a minute where did every one go ? Vacation ?
Well everyone chow is on me. Flo give Steve an ice tea he is very cranky today.
Garry - praying for a safe trip for you and hope your friend Dan is recovering well
Ulrich - thanks for the videos.
Heartland Division CB&Q Where is Lion ? The news is reporting a subway train derailed in New York City, and I thought of our pal, Lion.
LION is nice and save in North Dakota. Spent all day yesterday taking monks to doctor Appointments in Bismacrk. Looks like more of the same for today, except that we will be going to Dickinson.
ROAR
I have Headache today......
Anyway, I have been researching the Metropolis Il railroad bridge for a newsletter.
It Turns 100 this December. In doing a little calculation the longest span (720') woudl be ober 8 ft in Ho scale! the whole bridge is longer than 1 mile an HO scale copy would be over 80 Ft.
MoeLarry
Geez that is HUGE ! I wonder if anyone has ever built a scale model something that big and kept it to scale ?
Lion - Glad you are safe : )
Hi guys
havent been in for a while now. Weather has been warm but we have received a lot of rain in the last couple weeks, seems like it's round after round of storms.
tomorrow is the last day of school here, my nephews and niece I'm sure are excited. Can't believe there done already. Before you know it it will be September. Haven't done any railroading in close to a year now and really haven't had the itch to do so.
hope to pop in more regularly
YGW I would love to see a model of it built but not practical.