Good morning John. Did you get your brush burning done the other day and stay warm by the fire? That actually sounded like a really fun chore to me.
Put in a good word with the Man Upstairs for us and have a good visit at church. Bring us back some of those donuts if you would please
TF
Yeah, TF, those ski weekend sure were fun. I remember one morning when we went there with a bunch of my daughter's high school ski team friends. I was walking through the lobby and one of the staff who didn't know me asked if he could help me find something. "No, we're here with 5 teenage girls, and I just came down here to use the bathroom."
The whole lobby burst out in laughter.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
NorthBrit Good morning Diners. A large coffee please, Zoe. Just a quick visit as the grandchildren are arriving. I know it is a Christmas theme this month, but I found this film of a model railway. From when I was a lad I was told and read about 'The Madder Valley Railway' built by John Ahern in the 1930s. Although only seeing pictures at the time I was alway 'mesmerised' by the beauty of the layout. John has now passed to working on 'The Great Model Railway'. fortunately his layout has been preserved and is working at Pendon Museum. Here is the layout working this weekend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBC8T1ZE7g Enjoy! David
Good morning Diners. A large coffee please, Zoe.
Just a quick visit as the grandchildren are arriving.
I know it is a Christmas theme this month, but I found this film of a model railway.
From when I was a lad I was told and read about 'The Madder Valley Railway' built by John Ahern in the 1930s. Although only seeing pictures at the time I was alway 'mesmerised' by the beauty of the layout.
John has now passed to working on 'The Great Model Railway'. fortunately his layout has been preserved and is working at Pendon Museum.
Here is the layout working this weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBC8T1ZE7g
Enjoy!
David
Hi David,
Loved the video. When I started-out building my own Model Railways in 1968 at the ripe old age of 11, I always read 'Railway Modeller' (Peco Publications) and JM's 'Madder Valley' often featured or was referred to.
MR's like it, were always an influence. It was great to see it again, in the video.
Also, from that era (1971) another layout from Railway Modeller that I thought was fantastic even though I was not modelling Narrow Gauge (and it too, is not a Christmas theme) was 'Stronalacher' saga by David Mander. There is a series of 'sagas' and when I view them, it shows what modellers could achieve without all the ready-made scenic materials that we have at our disposal today.
http://tbmod.com/rm/rm197104stronalacher5.pdf
Regards, Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Good Morning,
Blustery day here, a little snow but getting windy and colder. Not good forthe big football game this afternoon. There are only 3 downs in Canadian rules and the field is 10 yds. longer and 10 yds. wider so it is a passing game to move the ball. Not good in a blizzard. They sold 30k tickets but I wonder how many will go.
A good day to run trains! I gave the Mike a good workout yesterday and think it is time to get the J4e Pacific out.
I have been watching some videos on Youtube about WW2 fighters especially the Typhoon and Mosquito.
We have a small flock of Juncos here. A little late for them. A grey squirrel comes to the back door and begs like a dog. He gets a piece of Nutsy for his efforts.
I had hoped to get down to Thief River Falls to visit our good friends but that won't be happening soin with the new border restrictions and she is recovering from back surgery. Haven't bee there for 2 years. We used to go at least 3 times a year.
CN Charlie
Good morning from the sunny West Coast where it is -1c. We are getting 10cm of snow tonight they say. We can go an entire year without ever hitting the freezing mark here and/or get snow. Given the wacky extreme weather we have been getting I think we are holding our collective breath.
I have been following what has been going on with CP and CN trying to get up and running as a lot of crew(s) chit-chat on the RR FB sites. Some get brought in to man trains and before they get going there are more issues and they time out, going nowhere.
Went to the Canucks game last night with the kid and had a great time. The drive home was very relaxing in this new Highlander. As I got further away from the city and the cars fell off, with the self-steering and auto speed control I just sat there and enjoyed the ride. It was so peaceful with great music playing.
MisterBeasley I just came down here to use the bathroom."
Mr.B, my day started off with a good laugh reading this.
Dave, congrats to your DIL on her achievements.
Both my kids eat, sleep, breathe school and the result of that is evident. My son got honours with distinction all through University and had a six-figure income six months before he even graduated and now his employer is paying for him to get his Masters and I would bet it won't stop there.
My daughter is also tearing it up getting 100% on almost every lab/project and exam in her sciences. She is going into medical forensics but after she wrote a couple of papers was approached by an outside group (for lack of a better term) about doing some work in Astro Anthropology after her Professor recommended her. The governments of the world are really gearing up for disclosure and are seeking out top talent. We're supposed to say she is working in public safety. She is taking a couple of astronomy courses this term to bone up on all things space. Really basic stuff that she already knew, I bet it will get tougher as she keeps going.
I am a guy with high school education and my wife is a highly educated super-brain but is very passive. Both my kids got my wife's smarts and ability to learn and got my tenacity to go after the things they set their minds on. It was a good breeding as all our dog friends like to say.
Time to get on the bike, I have missed too many days. I like to eat and only allow myself to be a glutton when I work out. So far I have not put on any weight.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good afternoon, everyone. TF, I ate all the donuts, so I'm sorry there aren't any for the diner today.
I finished the leaves and branches just in time -- a cold front is sweeping through, and tomorrow our high temperature will be below freezing.
I've got a large amount of firewood, a basement refrigerator full of adult drinks, and a fireplace waiting for the cold temps. I love it.
My wife is spending her days watching Hallmark Christmas movies. It's time for me to work on some unfinished layout sections.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
MisterBeasleyYeah, TF, those ski weekend sure were fun.
I recall seeing the ads for the famous Boston & Maine Ski Trains. My dad's brother-in-law, Stanley Mackenzie, was a B&M station agent and took these photos:
Flying-Yankee at Warren, NH by Edmund, on Flickr
The Dartmouth Outing Club is still in existance and I contacted them to see if they wanted a copy of this negative but never heard back. Of course all the twenty-somethings in this photo would be over 100 today!
Miss Yankee:
Flying Yankee by Edmund, on Flickr
I posted the above photo over at Classic Trains and another member there chastized me for blatantly promoting an unsafe railroad violation. I took the photo down
Eighty-years hence:
Detraining at the foot of the slopes by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Finale weekend by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
BATMANI have been following what has been going on with CP and CN trying to get up and running as a lot of crew(s) chit-chat on the RR FB sites. Some get brought in to man trains and before they get going there are more issues and they time out, going nowhere.
This is neat. Too bad the video embedding is messed up here (I changed security settings on the MR site to allow "unsecure content" on my machine):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAk5BDBa1UY
A Hotel on wheels. Used to be called Bunk Cars in the U.S.
John, I hope the exhaust stack isn't too hot for the little lass' backside
Cheers, Ed
MisterBeasley Yeah, TF, those ski weekend sure were fun. I remember one morning when we went there with a bunch of my daughter's high school ski team friends. I was walking through the lobby and one of the staff who didn't know me asked if he could help me find something. "No, we're here with 5 teenage girls, and I just came down here to use the bathroom." The whole lobby burst out in laughter.
Funny stuff Mister B.
While having two daughters and two bathrooms in the house, one would think everything would run smoothly in the morning, no pun intended.
There were countless times I was thankful for the makeshift funnel attached to the hose going through the wall in the garage, ... A bit redneck, yes but would save you in a pinch
York1 Good afternoon, everyone. TF, I ate all the donuts, so I'm sorry there aren't any for the diner today.
OH MAAAAAN!
https://youtu.be/IYRurPB4WA0
My last memory of a ski train was at Sunday River in Maine. They tried briefly to revive the old service. I guess it didn't catch on. It ran from Portland to the resort, but the timing was such that you pretty much lost the first and last hour of skiing if you tried to make a day trip of it.
After the service ended, they parked a dining car in the stub-end station for a year or two. It became an upscale restaurant called the Iron Horse. I went there once and had wild boar.
Good morning Diners. A bowl of porridge, and a coffee please, Brunhilda.
It is wet and wild outside. A storm is on its way again.
Henry. I had a bottle of Pusser's Gunpowder Rum. I enjoyed it. Too strong for other members of the family. Stil have the ordinary Pusser's Rum in the house.
Dave. Great news about DiL. Congratulations.
Paul. Glad you like the Madder Valley Railway video. Stronalacher brought back memories. Buckingham G.C. by Peter Denny has a new owner and is preserved.
Others I have missed. Not intentional. Life is a little crazy at present. Any challenges you are facing; a speedy outcome for the better.
Model Railway advertisements seen here in the U.K.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM4uGgchFnM
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning diners. Flo, coffee and some raisin toast please.
Got some snow yesterday and things look pretty again. Of course, we only got 1-2 inches, but as soon as it stopped the plows were out. That's all fine and dandy, but then they were out again this morning about 4 am and we hadn't gotten any more snow! I could see it if they had banks to push back, but that clearly wasn't the case either. All the boot prints in the driveway and on the sidewalk were still clear with no hint of filling in. After last years really mild winter I think the plow drivers are rushing out if one of them spots a snowflake in the air. We've hardly received anything for snow, but the plows have been out a half a dozen times already. I think they're trying to make up for "lost" wages last winter.
gmpullmanI posted the above photo over at Classic Trains and another member there chastized me for blatantly promoting an unsafe railroad violation.
By the way Ed, I don't recall hearing about if the birds returned to your neck of the woods. No idea what made me think of that. Just curious.
Have a good day guys!
Mike
York1
Good morning
I enjoy the old railroad adds Ed always posts as well John. I see your getting into the spirit of things makes my Burlington Route Silver Streak Zephyr set officially a Christmas Train now.
Only problem is the set didn't come with that good-looking blond in the red bikini.....
Here's one for Ed.
Hey Kid! Didn't your mom teach you to look both ways!
I haven't seen the Bear in this neck of the woods here this month, unless I missed him, I guess I miss him
Water Level RouteBy the way Ed, I don't recall hearing about if the birds returned to your neck of the woods. No idea what made me think of that. Just curious.
Thanks for asking, Mike!
As Paul Harvey was famous for saying — And now the Rest of the Story!
Going back to late August, I ran out of the black sunflower seed that I buy in 50 lb. bags from the bird feeding store here in town. As a thoughtful gesture my son-in-law bought me a few bags of "premium" bird seed from the Wal-Mart.
This stuff was 85% millet and the rest was probably gravel and beach sand. My wife knew this stuff wasn't going to cut it with our picky birds and she then went to the Wal-Mart and bought the "Super-Deluxe-Premium" Sam's Choice bird feed.
This latter was at least 50-60% sunflower seed. The birds still turned their beaks up at it. Personally, I've never set foot in a Wal-Mart. Don't see any reason to start now.
Finally, about a month ago, I had the chance to get to the bird feeding store and buy 200 lbs. of good black oil sunflower seed. Slowly the birds have returned. They're still a little miffed about my bait-&-switch but I told them I'll never run out of the good stuff again.
The chickens wound up eating the Wal-Mart stuff. Hope their eggs don't go sour.
When we had the first snow a few weeks back the birds were thankful to have their usual grub available. A lesson was learned for all of us Still, they're not back in the numbers they were earlier in the year. I keep watching!
Water Level RouteYou can't be serious!?! Were they there? Do they have any idea the circumstances around which that photo was taken? I doubt it.
Yeah, it kind of surprised me, too! Good thing I didn't post THIS photo:
3/11/78, CS employees by OHFalcon72, on Flickr
These guys think they're professionals
This was the thread it was in (Trains, not Classic Trains, my bad)
https://cs.trains.com/trn/f/740/t/265393.aspx
Happy Monday everyone!
NYC_Snow-1938 by Edmund, on Flickr
Ed, good to hear the birds are coming back. Picky little buggers. I looked at that thread you linked and couldn't believe he actually brought "morals" into the argument. Again, making assumptions with no real knowledge. Unfortunate. He could have very easily mentioned something like "Remember kids, taking photos like these requires blue flag protection." Thank you for posting them here! I have a desktop wallpaper from the late 30's of a traffic cop directing traffic. Doesn't make me think it's okay for me to go stand in the middle of an intersection though!
Breaks over. Back to the grindstone.
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, coffee, and more bacon, please.
It was a cold walk this morning, but I survived by finally getting my winter parka out of the closet. The creek is frozen, so I'm not sure what the blue heron will do. I guess he will head south.
Ed, my wife feeds the birds, and buys only the black sunflower seeds (along with suet and woodpecker bars). She spends more on the birds than we do for our own food.
We've had issues with raccoons getting into the feeders, so she hung all the feeders on wires strung between some trees. Last night, we watched a young raccoon get to a feeder by hanging from the wire and walking upside down, kind of like videos of sloths. Today she is going to try putting vaseline on the wires. She is determined to stop the raccoons, but she won't let me use the final solution. I've got the ammo ready for when she finally reaches her limit with the raccoons.
A nice winter day--a good day to work on trains!
The Georgetown Loop Railroad Christmas train west of Denver:
We also have a dining car diner. The classic Mickey's Diner St Paul.
I know the owner was offered a lot of money for his prime real estate but refused to sell because of its historic significance. I believe they were trying to force him to sell but too many were lobbying against it.
I think it was going to be made into a parking ramp but they just built the high-rises around it.
Our Iron Horse was in Crystal Minnesota and a little different scenario up here. It was a live rock & blues bar way back in my younger party days. Quite the unproductive time in my life but us wild idiots sure did have fun .....
A lot of well known bands came through that place such as Slave Raider, Austin-Healey, Lamont Cranston, Blue Oyster Cult, Vince Neil and many more to name a few.
I was surprised there's still a lot of old information about that place still left on the internet. Two famous landmarks, one still remains.
Water Level Route I have a desktop wallpaper from the late 30's of a traffic cop directing traffic. Doesn't make me think it's okay for me to go stand in the middle of an intersection though!
I still remember working late and driving home one dark and stormy night. I passed by a church and a service was letting out. I drove very slowly, watching for pedestrians. When I got to the crosswalk, I stopped and scolded the police officer. He was dressed entirely in black with no overhead light, and I only knew he was there because I was familiar with the road. I pointed out that he was completely invisible and was a hazard to himself. He went back t his car for a safety vest.
A frosty -8F with a -26 windchill but it is sunny. I have to do a grocery run later otherwise I wouldn't go out at all.
Ed, yes the birds are picky and most won't eat millet. At our place they don't even have to shell the sunflower seeds as we buy it shelled and it isn't cheap. Truthfully we don't want the mess of shells in the garden and the ones from black oil are toxic to plants.
I did run trains yesterday. The Pacific is ready to leave the station today with a ahort local passenger train.
Have a good day everyone,
gmpullmanGood thing I didn't post THIS photo:
12
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Wow! Eight hours since last post. Been a slow day in the diner.
Speaking of diners, the picture of the diner in St. Paul is kind of neat. I hope they can keep it there as a national historic structure. Things like that makes a place interesting.
I don't know if it is still there, but there was at one time (70's) an eighty foot Union Pacific diner car that was placed on a section of track on a lot on Sunset Boulevard a little bit east of where Tower Records was. I never went in to sample the food. Always thought of it as a gimmick rather than a destination eatery. I have no idea if it is still there or not. Kind of a neat concept. You would have a completely functioning kitchen right there in the car ready to go. Maybe it was supplanted by taco trucks.
edit: The name of the place is Carney's and apparently it is still going.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
up831edit: The name of the place is Carney's and apparently it is still going.
I happen to have a photo of the joint!
UP_Diner by Edmund, on Flickr
Never got to eat there — maybe someday?
NYC_Sleep-1946 by Edmund, on Flickr
And one for Garry...
CBQ_Zephyr by Edmund, on Flickr
A good night to all,
gmpullmanAnd one for Garry...
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
gmpullman CBQ_Zephyr by Edmund, on Flickr
To Garry
Image courtesy of Marty Bernard
Good morning Diners. It is a frosty morning before the storm arrives, so a bowl of porridge please Zoe. A large coffee as well please.
Seems a quiet time in the Diner lately. Maybe some are getting ready for Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i54dh0HWcoc&list=PL_3oMSJHm8Rq9uhso00SnsSMWti0L0vMC&index=3
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
Thanks for the video showing all the MARX advertizing and company history. The more I watched, the more I wished that I was 10 years old again back in 1964!
I still have a bunch of 1950s MARX O scale trains and the locomotives all run nicely, or at least they did the last time I set up some track about 20 years ago. Dianne regularly suggests that I should get rid of them because all they are doing is collecting dust. I try to patient but I am very firm! She goes before the trains go!!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
CNCharlieEd, yes the birds are picky and most won't eat millet. At our place they don't even have to shell the sunflower seeds as we buy it shelled and it isn't cheap. Truthfully we don't want the mess of shells in the garden and the ones from black oil are toxic to plants.
Hi CNCharlie,
We feed black sunflower seeds and nyger (sp?) seed exclusively. The sunflower seeds are unshelled and we go through about 150 lbs per year, but there is almost no buildup from the shells. I believe that part of the explanation is that a lot of the birds like the chickadees take the seeds elsewhere before shelling them, but the goldfinches will sit on the feeders and drop a dozen seeds before finding one that suits them. We do have a lot of squirrels and chipmunks who quickly take care of any whole seeds on the ground.
The squirrels can't get to our feeders because they are all on poles with upside down funnel shaped squirrel guards on them.
We used to waste a ton of nyger seed until we changed feeders. We were using the feeders with several perches and very small holes where the seed was accessible. The pile of seed and shells under the feeder was huge! We switched to a feeder that is simply a tube made out of fine expanded metal screening. It has a roof so the seed doesn't get wet too often, and it has a catch tray for spilled seed. The doves keep the tray literally spotless and there is almost no seed on the ground. Our expenditures on nyger seed have gone down by 2/3rds!
Here is what the old nyger feeder looked like:
Here is what the new one looks like:
The difference is incredible. Almost no waste. Never any mouldy seed.
Ed,
Glad to hear that the birds are coming back!
Remembering the fallen eighty years ago:
USS Missouri (BB-63) by Edmund, on Flickr
Arizona_Memorial_Wall by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Good morning, everyone. A nice crisp morning calls for bacon, eggs, and black coffee.
I'm enjoying the movie, "Torpedo Run", on TCM on this Pearl Harbor day. I've mentioned before that my father was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. He and his fiance (my mother!) had a one day pass on Sunday, Dec. 7. They borrowed a car and were driving up to see Paradise Inn on Mount Rainier when they got stopped. They found out Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Dad had to immediately go back to the fort. My mother said that it seemed that the world was coming to an end.
My wife's birds go through 120 pounds of black oil sunflower seeds each month. Each 40 pound bag costs $24. I'm not real thrilled about this. Her 7 feeders have produced a part of the side yard that is covered with four to six inches of shells. They don't decompose fast enough. The cardinals and the blue jays will eat a seed at a time. The two months that the black birds are here are terrible. They will scoop dozens of seeds out of the feeder to get just the one they want.
Not much going on today on the plains. We have a chance of snow tomorrow.
I hope everything is going OK with all the diners. I, too, sense there's not as much normal diner business lately. The waitresses may need to go out front and wave at the cars to bring in more customers.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Georgia:
It's a chilly morning here, too, so bacon, eggs and hot, black coffee would hit the spot. Scrambled with sauteed onions for me.
I'm not sure if it's an option, but is bird seed available online? We get our cat food and even cat litter that way, and it saves a lot. We get it from Chewy, but some of the brick-and-mortar pet stores do some online stuff as well.
Well, this stupid quarantine is almost over. I'm going out early tomorrow to get yogurt, fruit and milk. I'll probably go out again later, but that's what we need for breakfast. I have to go out to the butcher shop and to get some beer as well. Unfortunately, the GF hasn't gotten her sense of taste back yet, so we'll hold off on restaurants for a while.