Welcome to Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner in its May 2017 location!
This is a place to gather, a place without an agenda or a topic. It's free to all, to read, to join in, or just to enjoy some virtual food. Our gracious hosts ask only that we avoid certain hot-button topics like politics and religion that sometimes raise tempers.
You'll get to know the friendly staff just by listening. It's a place to share your day, your concerns, your joys and sorrows. Welcome aboard!
This month, we are located at a special place, 32 miles west of Brigham City and 66 miles northwest of Salt Lake City in Box Elder County, Utah. If you check the place on Google Maps, you won´t see much there, a rather dry and barren stretch of land, but a place where US history was written on May 10th, 1869!
On that date, the Union Pacific Railroad met the Central Pacific Railroad at a place later to become known as Promontary Point. The last tie was laid and the golden spike was driven into it, uniting the East and the West and turning the USA into a nation spanning the continent!
In 1965, the site has been made into the Golden Spike National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service.
On the 110th anniversary of the "Golden Spike" on May 10, 1979, two purpose-built replicas of the UP #119 and the Jupiter #60 were brought together on a specially relaid 1½ mile section of track. As the original Jupiter was scrapped for iron in 1901 and No. 119 was broken up two years later, the two replica locomotives were built in California with $1.5 million of federal funds. They were reconstructed using scaled-up measurements taken from photographs of the original engines.
The park, which has a visitor center and an engine house, is open throughout the year. Several walking trails and audio driving tours allow visitors to see the old cuts along the permanent way highlighting the effort needed to construct the railroad over Promontory Summit. On every Saturday and holiday between May 1 and Labor Day, the two replica locomotives are lined up to re-enact the "Golden Spike" ceremony.
The diner was renamed in honor of our dear departed esteemed friend, Jeffrey Wimberly. The RIP track is the place for us to pay our respect to our friends and forum members who are no longer with us.
Ulrich: Thanks for opening the diner. Stephen Ambrose's "Nothing Like It in the World" is a great read concerning the determination and corruption around the completion of the transcontinental railroad. How those surveyors mapped the route through the Sierras without the technology we have today is mind boggling.
Mr. B: Could we see you riding the Arizona roads some time soon?
Richard
Since we're celebrating the Transcontinental Railroad I thought we could say Happy Birthday to Amtrak's 46 years.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Ulrich,
Well done,------well done!
herrinchoker
Ulrich:
Thanks for opening the diner in such a timely spot. Again, another great video too.
I have N scale models of both #119 and 'Jupiter'. Alas, they are destined to be cannibalized for making my HOn30 critters. My bad!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Just on a side note - if you´d like to have a Gauge One (that´s 1/32 scale on 45mm track) model of both CP´s #60 "Jupiter" and UP´s #119, the Spanish company Ocio Creative (OcCre) makes nice metal & wood kits, which can also be motorized!
A word of caution - these are not beginner´s kits, but construction is very well documented and takes just an extra amount of care.
Visit occre.com for info on availability in the US.
Street price for a kit in Europe is about $220 including VAT, which will have to be deducted if you import it from Spain. I have seen prices in the US being 5 times that high!
Edit: I just found a video playlist on Youtube, documenting the building of UP #119. Never mind the narration in German, the built itself is without words, but good music!
Thanks for moving the Diner, Ulrich. Nice job on the intro! You always add a little extra.
Since we're in Utah, the Beehive State, at the top of the diner's Daily Specials board is Utah scones, which are more like fry bread served with butter and, of course, honey. Dig in!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Morning all
Been AWOL for about a week. ran into a problem on site with an underperforming carpenter superintendent. Been trying to help him do his job to keep the project moving. Even with my help he is not getting the job done. I have started cc his boss to make him aware that this guy is underperforming. Hopefully they will get him some assistance and on the right path. His supervisor told me if he doesnt get the job done he will be replaced.
Train front: Not much news put up some siding this weekend. It is painfully slow process....The height makes it slow.
Ulrich - Wonderful job on selection. Thank you very much !
Steve - Thanks for the desert. Yummy !
History qoute of the day:
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment to friends; and that the most liberal professions of good-will are very far from being the surest marks of it
slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment to friends; and that the most liberal professions of good-will are very far from being the surest marks of it
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
Trial by jury in civil causes,... trial by jury in criminal causes, [and] the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus... all stand on the same footing; they are the common rights of Americans.
So far as this has gone, I am satisfied to see a spirit prevailing that promises to send the system out free from those vexations and abuses that might be warranted by the terms of the Constitution. It must never be forgotten, however, that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government, as by the limitation of power.
Good morning,
well I start May off with going to the bank to get the fraudulent CC charges reversed. Someone skimmed my wife's CC at a gas station and bought things in Dallas and Memphis over last weekend. Lucky they only charged about $250 and I will get it all back. But the hassel of cancelling the card etc etc.
It appears the 10+ inches of rain North of us has riased the Ohio river levels this morning.
Afternoon Diners,
I'm surprised that the locomotives were replicas in the 1970s. I thought the golden spike and something else were replicas.
I have a picture of myself in drawing form during a train show years back in the famous photograph of the workers standing on the locomotives. Later on I'll show on the 10th.
Afternoon all. Flo (or whoever's handy) could I get a club sandwhich with cottage fries with white cheese on them and some raspberry ice tea and I will also take a serving of the offered Utah scones. Thank you some much.
Decided I need to change my schedule around for next week (pending Mom's approval of course). I was asked to dust the railroad display at the local museum. It has been about every two years that I check on it. (It is that time again.) I am finding that I have no ambition on a Monday to do the cleaning, but I think a Tuesday might give me more of a chance.
In the process, with the museum's permission, I have gotten a car from the display for my layout. It was among a bunch that were the wrong era for the display. The curator was nice enough to let me snag it as it fit my era perfectly.
Hello Fellow Diners!
Here is YGW's first Hobby Barn update for MAY...
HOBBY BARN MAY UPDATE
YGW's Construction Progress
Good evening .
Ulrich ..... Thanks for starting the May Diner.
YGW ... The Hobby Barn looks great.
Of course the route of the Claifornia Zephyr includes Utah. Maybe we should order off the menu. I found a copy of the old CZ menu on the innternet and would post it here if I knew how o copy GIF files into Photobucket to post here.
Cheers .
.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evenin'.... ah Janie.... You seem to be the only one here?
Guess I just need a cup of decaf for the moment and the newspaper to read, I guess.
[edit] Ah... I see Garry came in while I was reading......
Been a few days since I posted. Just way too many things going on. I did browse through the post a couple times though. Friday evening I was at a marathon session of interviews with some absolutely fine young kids. It was not an easy job to select 7 people out of the 14 we interviewed to recieve the scholarships. This years class was truely outstanding with 4 of the applicants managing to be on Honor and High Honor role all the way through through High School! They all had averages above 90 for the 4 years! One young man (whose Father I taught my first year in Geneva) has a 98 average! Just WOW!
Spent this afternoon over at school getting good photos of each of the winners for the newspaper article I wrote over the weekend. Got the photos cropped and adjusted for color, etc. and added them to the article on a USB Stick, and drove over to give it to the News Editor at the paper... He had just left for the day, and he won't be in tomorrow. He does have someone to work on the article so we left the stick and a note on the editors desk for whomever..... It should be in Fridays Paper which will give people a couple days to get tickets to the dinner. I guess the dinner has been been filling up well already.
Last Saturday I spent 10 hours at the R&GV RR Museum doing the Railroading Merit Badge with 9 great Scouts. We all had a great time. Actually some of their leaders were really into the activities too. They all got cab rides (and of course got to blow the horn), got to look over the insides of the locomotive to see the prime movers, Generators, and the traction motors. We did several things that aren't in the requirements, like at one point they got to see the 80 tonner (with the cabooses still hooked to it) couple onto LA&L #20 to pull it out of the restoration shop and also see how to put together the glad hands for the air brakes, not to mention to see esxactly how the couplers work. Then they got a ride back down the line (The rest of the troop got a cab ride then).
Even managed to get the new parts of the fascia for the layout painted and installed today.
We were under a storm warning most of the day today that included a Tornado watch for much of NYS. No tornados that I know of but we did get well over an inch of rain and some high winds along with lots of rumbling and flashes of lightning for a while.
Have a great night, and stay safe!
A few quotes:
"The Devil can cite Sripture for his purpose." - William Shakespeare
"The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils." - William Shakespeare
"He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer." - William Shakespeare
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan and I will have a please.
Just plain beat tonight. Work was OK, got to see a very good friend today when he bought a mattress. Allen is a fellow Mopar guy and he is storing my 68 Road Runner at his house in a garage. After this last hail storm, I am sure glad she was not at the house! To bad I got a little busy while he was at the store!
JMRI Question Ed. I think I may know why my Decoder Pro cannot read CV's 5 and 6 on the Mighty B&O and CB&Q F7's! My verison is about 6 to 7 years old. I m guessing the F7's maybe a little newer. How do you up date JMRI?
Just beat, so later.
Ken
I hate Rust
Ken,
Tried Marvell Mystery Oil on 2ond. track, seems to work as well as the ATF, applied as with the ATF---about clubs, the Pine Tree Club was one of the watering holes for the 82ond. We had this idiot in out section who proceeded to make disparageing remarks one night about the Airbourne--the only thing that saved us was the fact we had already grabbed him by the legs and were dragging him out of the club feet first, head dragging on the floor. Leonard was 5'3", and might have weighed 125 pounds wet, after that we were careful where we allowed him to go with us, especially if juice of the grape was involved. The incident at McKellar's sounded like suicide to me. I covered one simular in one of the towns in my county. A male was confronted by his girlfriend with a serrated steak knife, threatening to kill him. He told her she "didn't have a hair on her ---" She nailed him in the heart and killed him, yep, suicide. When confronted by a woman with a weapon it sometimes is best to remove yourself as quickly as possible.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Lunch time !
Well here in NOVA it is a BEAUTIFUL day. Blue skys, little puffy clouds, temps in the 70s, light breeze every thing is in bloom or green !
w**k - After yesterdays debacle with the carpenter super I sat down ( took me 48 hours to cool, down ) I sat down this morning and wrote out an email to the carpenters district supervisor and cc the carpenter super. It has brought about positive results. The district supervisor was on site two hours later walking the site himself. He told me he would get this guy going in the correct direction... I sure hope so because I am wore out doing my job and his.
Hobby front - This evening I hope to have time to install trim around the garage door openings.
Moe Larry - isnt that amazing how storm some where up stream can cause a flood down stream !
FRRYKid - That is great that you volunteer to do that. How long does it take ? That is very nice they give you a car for your RR.
Ed - Thank you again. How much do they charge for storm gaurd ?
Garry - Thanks ofr the nice comment
Howmus - I would have loved to be able to see the scouts face when they blew the whistle. I bet that was priceless !
Herrinchoker - Women are crazy when angry ! That why a lot of swat teams with a women in teh group will put her in the front. Because she will pull the trigger faster than most men ! My MIL tried to run her ex over. She actually ran the vehicle into their house after him !
JaBear - Hmmm? JaBear I wonder if the scones will be better for you if you add pineaple like you all put on everything ?
“Distrust naturally creates distrust, and by nothing is good will and kind conduct more speedily changed.” ― John Jay, The Federalist Papers
“Among the many objects to which a wise and free people find it necessary to direct their attention, that of providing for their safety seems to be the first.” ― John Jay, The Federalist Papers
“Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer.” ― John Jay
“Those who own the country ought to govern it.” ― John Jay
TTYL
YGW
Sure has been quiet around here. Let's start a discussion.
If you could start over again with a new layout, would you build the same railroad or something different, and why? Assume you have the same resources and time as you did when you started your current layout.
Although I'm still enamored of the same prototype and era as my current layout (1906 PRR in southwest Ohio), I would seriously consider updating it to the late 1920s, just to take advantage of all the USRA steam out there like Pacifics and Mikados that I can't run in 1906. And I've always loved the look of heavyweight passenger cars, and would like to run troop trains. Can't do any of that in 1906. Of course, I would have to redesign my layout to broaden its curves (currently 15" minimum), which would mean an unacceptable compression of my main line; I'd have to go double-deck (which would be tough in my low-ceilinged basement) or lose about half the modeled prototype.
So what would you do differently?
Good Morning Diners,
Flo, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.
i was looking and realized that I did not post for the entire month of April. Not that I was missed, but l'll try to correct that with a few posts this month.
Ive not had the opportunity to stop in at Promotory. Been through Salt Lake twice, Ogden once, but for whatever reason never went to Promotory. I would like to someday.
One of my four all time favorite movies is the Cecil B DeMille epic Union Pacific with Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyk. Great fun.
We did have a very busy April and spent a good share of that time visiting MOH's sister. Saw more of Red Rock country and revisited Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is interesting for RR fans. The Santa Fe mainline goes through there on the way to Kingman or Gallup depending on the direction. Trains go thru if not every 15 minutes, then every half hour. Flagstaff is also notable for Lowel Observatory, which was instrumental in the discovery of Pluto (the planet, not the dog).
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Steve
Interesting question. I have not yet built what I would really consider a proper layout. But IF I were to build a next layout after the upcoming one it would be the civil war era. I think that would be so fascinating because the Confederates were the first to really use the trains to move in mass their troops. It would be interesting to build a display of an actual battle scene with troops arriving via train... I think it would also be more challenging simply because the models are not out there for this era. So a lot of stuff would have to be scratch built...
Steven Otte Sure has been quiet around here. Let's start a discussion. If you could start over again with a new layout, would you build the same railroad or something different, and why? Assume you have the same resources and time as you did when you started your current layout. Although I'm still enamored of the same prototype and era as my current layout (1906 PRR in southwest Ohio), I would seriously consider updating it to the late 1920s, just to take advantage of all the USRA steam out there like Pacifics and Mikados that I can't run in 1906. And I've always loved the look of heavyweight passenger cars, and would like to run troop trains. Can't do any of that in 1906. Of course, I would have to redesign my layout to broaden its curves (currently 15" minimum), which would mean an unacceptable compression of my main line; I'd have to go double-deck (which would be tough in my low-ceilinged basement) or lose about half the modeled prototype. So what would you do differently?
I am building a new layout, and for all practical purposes I have started over. New house. The era is the same (modern, 1975 to present) and the rolling stock is the same. The only change in resources is a larger room, much larger. Previous layout in a 12x13 spare bedroom; new layout in a spare 24x25 garage.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Although I haven't started my current 2x4 layout. I wished on a way larger one when or if that happens. (When I move out?) I have several N Scale middle size and room size layout designs and one in HO.
In N Scale I have collected freight cars from 1950s thru 2006. Several locomotives in the 1970s-2006. I basically focused on Conrail in 1987-1999, UP/BNSF 1998-2007, Amtrak 1971-present, New York Central 1956-1967 (it works with ATSF, UP) Chessie System 1978-1984?? Southern Pacific 1980s-1996 (it works with ATSF, BN)
But I mainly want to model the 1990s because you could model almost any or all railroads before the mergers. Like AMTK, ATSF, BN, BNSF, CR, SP, UP. Probably like CNW, NS, CSX, KCS if I was more interested in them.
In HO Scale just a simple Southern Pacific in the 1990s with a mix Amtrak Superliners I & II in Phase III and IV with F40 and 8-40BHW.
If I was I was going to restart again I'll just one railroad, but I like them all. But I do have favorites. I don't know on what railroad (CR, SP, BNSF, UP). The one railroad that will stay is Amtrak.
Hello fellow diners,
First time visit to this friendly diner! Just dropped by to say hello from Greece.
With respect to Steve's question, i would start over, same theme/prototype, different knowledge/experience.
Yannis
to the Diner Yannis, all are welcome here (if you behave).
Read the rules as Br. Otte (steven) has put out for the Moderators to follow. NO Politics, NO Religion, No Weapons, or anything else that could get into heated arguments etc.
Have never been to Greece or the Greek Islands, but have visited too many Greek Restaraunts and too often as well. Love the food.
There are are a great bunch of Guys here and the odd time a Lady as well. Lots of great information and answers to questions when you get stuck on something.
Tell us about yourself and your layout and hopes for the future.
Someone is usually here 24/7 as we have a world wide Gang that frequents the Diner.
Best Wishes,
Johnboy out.................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Good afternoon.
Yannis ... Welcome to the Diner. ... Before we moved to Kentucky, my wife and I were living in Michigan where there are many Greek immigrants. Greek Town in Detorit is famous for its many Greek restaurants, and we developed a liking for Greek food. ... In fact, we recently ate at two Greek restaurants in St. Augustine , Florida (America's oldest city).
Steven .... I like your question about possible changes if we could start over. Actually, I have started over a few times in the past. In the 1980's, I did model the 1900's era with a fictional railroad serving three communities named Hither, Thither, and Yon. I was inspired by John Allen's layout as published in MR and other publications. However, it was in a Midwest setting instead of the mountains. The layout was dismantled because of moving to another house. There were some other moves until 2002 when I started my current layout which is a fictional division of the Burlington Route in 1962. My current layout has sectional construction so it can be relocated if we ever move again. ... I can go into further detail in the days ahead.
Also, Steven ... Please tell us more about your layout. It looks very interesting to me.
Happy Model Railroading
Hello All:
I haven't stopped in for a while, but I have poked my head in the door to eavesdrop now and then.
My pension check arrived, so I think I'll splurge while there's still money in the till. How about a nice salad with blue cheese dressing to start? Glass of water with that. Then a nice Porterhouse, medium rare, with baked potato and a nice seasonal vegetable. Asparagus, maybe? Lots of butter & sour cream & black pepper for the potato. No salt, and no steak sauce. A good steak needs neither. And of course one nice tall cold Bass Ale (just one) when the steak is served. I'll think about dessert later, if there's room.
Ed wins the prize for the quiz, so get him whatever he wants and put it on my tab. Fortunately for me, he's probably still full from his big meal on his visit to Cleveland, so it shouldn't cost me much.
Then I'll get down to business paying bills. There won't be anything left by this time next week, and I'll be back to Ramen noodles!
Ed, I can only sympathize with you on the loss of Cicero. Samson, my Husky cross, is going to be eleven years old this summer, which makes him about the equivalent of my own human age. There's no telling how much time either of us has left. I do know it would be hard to lose him.
Angelo, Herrinchoker, Ulrich, and all those with health issues: BABY YOURSELVES! Take it easy and take your medicine and take the doctors' advice.
I have been wrestling with the yard work, which is one excuse for not dropping in. I agree with Ray that a cordless electric mower is a great option for a moderate city lot. They are easy to start, quiet, and dependable. My Toro 20" cordless is showing its age though, and is probably due for replacement. I had a devil of a time with the first and second cuts this year, and bought a new blade. But it just seems to be tired and showing its age. I'm curious about your exprerience with the new Ego. Please keep us posted.
Cudaken: You might be interested in looking at cordless electrics if you're in the market. They always start, and there are no fuel quality issues, which is better than you can say for a lot of gasoline mowers. Some time ago, you mentioned a folding ladder that you were thinking about buying at Harbor Freight. A fellow came over to inspect my roof for an estimate on needed repairs, and he had one of those. It was large enough to get up on the roof of my ranch home, but it folded up neatly to fit into his compact car. He said it was a great investment.
YGW: Some time ago, I think you asked how a lion eats noodles. My first reaction was "Any way he wants to." You also mentioned the Battle of Ball's Bluff. I've noticed historical references to Indians paddling canoes on streams that are impassable today due to erosion, reroutings of the channel, silting, diversion of the source water away from the old stream for irrigation, and any number of other factors that have affected the natural order of things in the past 150 years. It's no real surprise that a waterway that was passable in the 1860's might be impossible to navigate today.
I'm curious about the hobby barn. How much of it will be devoted to railroad pursuits?
Mr. Beasley: The knee issues were bad enough. The divorce is certainly another difficult issue on top of it. What to do about the house? Whether to relocate to another area? These are all tough things to work through. I was divorced myself many years ago and never remarried. If it's any comfort, my ex and I are on pretty good terms today. All you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and press on. If I were to relocate and move away from Maryland, it would probably be to my home State of Ohio where I have family, or to North Carolina where I lived in the 1966-67. I lived in Gullford County, NC, which is about midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains. The climate was reasonable, with winters and summers that weren't too extreme. I lived about 100 yards from the busy Southern Railway mainline.
Never thought much about Montana, but who am I to say? And of course since we're curreetly dining in Utah, you might think about that.
Yannis, Welcome! One thing I miss is Greek food. There's only one Greek restaurant here in Hagerstown. They're pretty good, but the menu is limited and it's take-out only. We need a good Greek sit-down restaurant! Opaah!
Steven, your question about starting over with a new focus is intriguing. I'll have to give that some thought before I respond. Do I recall that your layout was featured in MR some tme back? Or is that a brain hiccup?
After my Porterhouse, I think I'll just sit back with a cup of strong, black coffee while I decide whether there's room for peach pie.
Tom
ACY Steven, your question about starting over with a new focus is intriguing. I'll have to give that some thought before I respond. Do I recall that your layout was featured in MR some tme back? Or is that a brain hiccup?
Not exactly. Shortly after I met my now-wife, I drew up an HO scale plan for my railroad that would have fit in her garage. It was published in the September 2008 MR. However, since we moved to a house with a basement in Milwaukee after getting married, it was never built as drawn. All the prototype information described in that article still fits my current layout, though.
Dinner time !
Yannis - So glad you dropped in. Pull up a chair and stay awhile ! Flo get him his favorite drink please. I will cover the tab.
ACY - I didnt think about that but that is very true. I have heard of rivers silting in...That is true ! A lion can pretty much eat anything he wants : ) anyway he wants !
Lion - Spaeking of Lions , here kitty kitty.... Where are you....?
UP831 - So gald to see you again! Please share some photos of teh grand canyon. It is on my bucket list to visit....
Good Day, Diners!
I thought I'd better jump in here before I fall too far behind!
Recent days have been more conducive to indoor activities here in NE Ohio, weather-wise. The possiblity of snow is forecast for the weekend. No matter— I have my hobby and I also have a huge project I'm tackling to produce a slide show DVD commemorating the history of the GE plant that I retired from last fall. The plant was built in 1932 and I have thousands of photographs that I have scanned regarding the plant's history. GE is finally closing the operation toward the end of this year and managers have asked me to put together this memento to be made available to current employees and retirees. I really have to keep my nose to the grindstone in order to finish it in time!
Thanks for the seamless move of the Diner, Ulrich. I recall being in the Union Pacific's headquarters in Omaha back in 1966. There was a very nice museum there showing a great number of artifacts related to the Great Linking of the Seas by Rail.
Happy Birthday to Amtrak, too! I recall being in Cleveland Union terminal as the last Penn-central passenger trains departed for the last time. Amtrak never used CUT and even skipped Cleveland completely for the first few months.
Ken, you can update JMRI by going to the download page here:
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/download/index.shtml
Before you do, I suggest you make sure you have the latest version of Java on your machine:
https://java.com/en/download/
I'll have to get back to you on the settings for speed table CVs on the QSI/BLI locos. If you can not access CV 5 & 6 you could possibly use the speed tables instead?
YGW, the GAF Stormguard runs about $70 for 200 s/f. They have a mineral coated product called WeatherWatch that is $50 for 150 s/f. I'm glad to help with the photos. Did you see my email about the missing photo?
Steven, In regards to doing a re-make of my layout I would no douby keep the era of late 1950s and the main-line operations, fast freights and even faster passenger trains ! The only change that I would give major consideration to would be to design the benchwork in more of a shelf-type arrangement with easier access. I made too many areas of broad expanse that makes access difficult.
ACY, Tom. Thank you for the Cicero condolences! Certainly our pets become part of our very own soul, mind and spirit and missing their companionship can be painful at times.
I had almost forgotten the Quiz from PM Railfan back in April's Diner! Thanks for scoring it for me and thanks for picking up the tab I'll go easy on your pension funds and just order a small appetizer!
Welcome, Yannis! Like others, I'm really impressed with Greek cuisine. As I mentioned in an earlier reply one of my favorite restaurants was run by George Papadopoulos.
Well, I've yammered on enough...
Amtrak was only two-years old back when these were taken. Here's a few photos of yours truly back in my Wonder Years when I served as a steward on Mr. DeWitt Chapple's former C&O private car. What great fun that was!
Regards, Ed