The Diner has been uprooted from the previous Michigan location and made the 8,500 mile journey half-way round the world to the Southern Hemisphere and to New Zealand. This month should be very interesting as we learn about the history and railroads of this wonderful country.
On to more great discoveries!
Cheers, Ed
Thanks for starting Ed!
This is a short video of a Kiwi Rail passenger train in the high country:
I'll post more pictures and videos soon.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
What's not to love about locomotives lettered Kiwi Rail?
Thanks, Dave! This is a team effort
I'm going to take a break and fix a drink
Great opening Ed!
I will let my daughter know we kept the sign she made!
My computer stayed stable long enough for me to post this... unbelievable.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190I will let my daughter know we kept the sign she made!
Thanks, Kevin! Stable memory is a good thing, I think? I used to have it but I forgot when
Here's a critter that I'll bet Dave would like to model:
Waipara, New Zealand, 1994 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
A Pink Panther side-winder
I Liked it Ed.
I felt like I was riding the Kiwi Train on the tour. And I was touched that I saw Kevin's daughters sign that you chose to remain here
The scenery of New Zealand sure is beautiful.
Thanks Ed.
You did a Great job opening up the Diner in New Zealand.
TF
Here's another video of the incredible scenery:
A beautifully restored AB Class steamer, and a couple of shots for us birders!
CNCharlie,
I sent you a PM about the CN stock car.
gmpullmanHere's a critter that I'll bet Dave would like to model:
For sure!!
We have a little pub not too far from us that is called "The Peter Sellers Pub", and they have a little switcher locomotive that runs all around the pub on a track suspended just below the ceiling. I'm not sure of the scale but it is bigger than O gauge. They would love to have something like that Pink Panther switcher!
This pub is a real hidden gem. It's in the basement of a restaurant and the way down to it is positively dingy. However, they have a large selection of single malt scotches and several local artisans' beers on tap, and the food is great.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Ed,
Thanks for moving the diner,
herrinchoker
Good Grief, the Diners already here, and we haven’t even welcomed it properly.
Hey Bear! That was quite a greeting!
I am glad that your indigenous people are so active in keeping their history alive. They obviously have a very strong culture, and their ceremonies evoke a lot of emotion. Thanks for showing us a proper Maori greeting, even if it did scare the pants off me!
I'm sorry to hear that Covid-19 has messed your business up so badly. Keeping a stiff upper lip seems to be getting harder every day.
Cheers!!
On a fast ship to New Zealand. In the Suez Canal. Egyptian train heading north.
Sundown in the Red Sea.
Will arrive N. Z. shortly, keep safe.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good Morning
Sure is nice in New Zealand here Thanks again Ed for your well appreciated efforts Well Done!
My Grandson Xavier was a puppy last night for Halloween
Isn't He Cute?
And we get over there once a year A year is way too long with this little guy growing up
Last year's picture of him, He doesn't like the Packers because his Daddy told him not to
A chip off the old block That's my little Fiddler
Good Sunday morning, everyone. It's donut morning!
I've finally gotten to a country I've always wanted to visit -- New Zealand. At my age, I know this is now the closest I will get.
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."
Good afternoon all. Arrived in New Zealand. There is Maori music being played nearby.
November is birthdays and anniversaries in the family. Grandson number 3 is six today. He has just had a little birthday party with his Grandma and me.
Take care everyone.
The are two ex South African Northerns and a Beyer Garrett near the waterfront in Auckland that are in rough condition.
I really enjoyed our cruise there two years ago. We're supposed to go back in 13 months, but we shall see... If not, at least we saw it!
Good Morning,
New Zealand is a country we have on our 'to go ' list. Japan is next up but with covid and the aftermath I doubt we will get to either.
Dave, I sent you a reply PM on that stock car. Thanks.
Nicer day today compared to yesterday. The wind has died down and it is sunny if cool. Supposed to get up to 55F this week, maybe 60! That is far above normal which is about 35F.
Not sure what I will get up to today, perhaps run trains.
Have a great day,
CN Charlie
Good morning from the beautiful sunny West Coast.
Thanks to Ed for the move and Bear for the greeting. New Zealand is one place I would move to in a heartbeat, probably the most civilized place on the planet and stunningly beautiful. I hope to make it back one day.
As usual, we had no trick or treaters last night, I think fifteen years ago would be a good guess as to how long it has been since we've been spooked.
The insurance people were in about the leaky dishwasher and they are replacing the entire floor including the plywood subfloor. That means a leaky dishwasher has turned into a $70,000.00 kitchen remodel. Lots of changes to be made and the wife has already bought all the appliances and I have to get going on the electrical today as there will be changes to be made including a 30 Amp circuit for the new additional wall oven and 20 amp for some microwave/ warmer oven?????
Ray, you were asking about the price of the pups, I cannot answer that question. At least five of them are going all over the world including one to India to show homes, one or more will be donated for guide dog work. The agreements for top-level show situations often involve no money changing hands with options for a future pup(s) back and sometimes cash trades hands but the amount varies with the agreement.
Believe me when I say the type of interest my wife has in the dog world is an expensive, costly venture. The mother of this litter cost five figures to get on the ground (born here) she was placed with a co-owner so no money changed hands. The co-owner campaigned the dog to the highest titles obtainable in conformation (show), highest Obedience titles and highest Field titles (retrieving). The co-owner spent well into the five figures travelling, training, competing. The wife has full breeding rights and because of the success of the mother, the pups are sought after from around the world. The waiting list for one of my wife's dogs is well over 200. The wife usually breeds a litter every eighteen months or so and the sire and female dog must be perfect. It is a money pit is all I'll say.
If anyone wants a dog for a pet, a rescue dog is a win/win for all. Buying a purebred dog, make sure it has all its health clearances. Like anything else do the homework first and you will likely save expensive heartache down the road.
Well, I need to cut the grass and this won't be the last time hopping on the Deere with all this warm sunshine.
Can't wait to get to Queenstown.
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
It is cold and blustery here in NE Ohio. Good model RR weather (see my photos of a "new" project taking hold in David's new contest thread).
Thanks for the accolades on the Diner move. We made record time, faster than the New York Central jet Budd car! Thanks, too, for the Maori greeting, Bear. Quite the show
Santa Fe colors?
Dunedin, New Zealand, 1994 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Here's a nice overview on NZ rail travel: https://www.newzealand.com/us/rail/
So now I'm off to dig in to a plate of spaghetti on toast
I hope everyone is safe and healthy!
Afternoon from a dark icky day here in the Finger Lakes region. Windy, rainy and c-c-cold out there. Will be tryimg to get my minimum steps today walking around in circles inside the house.
BATMANBelieve me when I say the type of interest my wife has in the dog world is an expensive, costly venture. The mother of this litter cost five figures to get on the ground (born here) she was placed with a co-owner so no money changed hands. The co-owner campaigned the dog to the highest titles obtainable in conformation (show), highest Obedience titles and highest Field titles (retrieving). The co-owner spent well into the five figures travelling, training, competing.
Brent... That is pretty much what I thought! Yes, if I was to get a dog it would be a rescue dog just for the company. There are so many dogs and cats that have been given up during the pandemic simply because people could no longer afford to keep them and something had to give. Very sad!
Storm appears to be coming through at the moment so I will keep this short. Nice to be where it is Spring in the diner rather than Fall!
Back to walking in circles for a bit!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I think we may need to all chip in and buy Kevin a new computer. He is missed on these threads.
The GF has a dog and two cats, all rescues. The newest cat has been with us for a year. She was only a couple of months old when we got her. Heart-melting adorable and a clever little cat as well. She taught herself to play fetch, and then taught the dog.
She stands with that regal poise of a Siamese.
Oddly, in this trying year, the big issue in our town is feral cats. There's a large group arguing for capture, neutering and release, but that's not going to reduce the number of cats.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
All of our dogs and cats through the years are rescue animals.
The latest, Daisy the Dachshund, was taken from a meth dealer's house as a puppy. She was deaf and had almost no fur due to bad care and mange.
She is now a happy, healthy, long-haired dapple dog who moved from rescue dog to Queen, reigning over this house and over us.
My wife is a cat lover, but the other day a neighbor's cat killed a bird at our feeder. My wife was so mad that if my ammo and guns weren't locked up, she would have blown that cat to the rainbow bridge.
My wife's Mom up in Wisconsin has been a dog rescuer for many many years. Their last dog Brutus didn't live very long because he was rescued a very old dog.
He would Circle the house every night at dusk and bark warding off whatever he was warding off to protect his family before he retired for the evening. He was a really nice sweet old dog! He was a big boy, a bullmastiff and looked as mean as he was a sweetheart.
Other than that I don't have to much to say as not too much happened today on a Sunday.
I watched a few football games and was surprised the Vikings won the Packers.
I sure miss Kevin around here.
I need to go pick up Judy from work in 10 minutes. She got two days in this week on the weekend.
Both of our animals are inherited rescues. They were rescued by daughters, who then found themselves in a situation where they could no longer provide a home for the animals. One married a great kid that is allergic to cats, and the other moved into an apartment with a pet limit--she took the cat and we got the dog. One of the joys of being a parent. The dog is a delight and the cat is often a terror.
Richard
Good afternoon all.
Got the grass cut and leaves chopped, vapourized, or whatever you want to call it. I started looking for things to do just so I could stay outside as it was so warm, no jacket required. I changed the oil and spark plugs in the generator as it was starting to run a little rough and storm season is approaching. Also fixed the gate that was sticking and the wife was complaining about it. Usually, she would have just fixed it herself. She is a little busy going back and forth with the kitchen designer so that may have had something to do with it.
It is my daughters nineteenth Birthday tomorrow and the kid went to buy her a present and came home with a bottle of Captain Morgan and Cab Sav for me. He kissed me on the top of my head and put them on the desk in front of me. The only problem is the clocks got moved back and now I have to wait an extra hour for happy hour.
When I was quite young a very pregnant Beagle followed my sister and me home one day. My parents tried really hard to find the owner, however, it wasn't long and the pups were born. They sold the mutt pups and placed the Mom beagle at a farm out in the country. We kept the last pup that did not get sold and she was the best dog that stuck to me like glue growing up. She lived until she was 18.
I have always had a dog right from a young age and can't imagine life without one. We are keeping two boys from this latest litter, one will go eventually but the other will be my new buddy as I just lost my old one. We always have varying numbers of dogs here but I will really only become attached to one.
I have been emersed in the dog show world for fifty years because of the family but I have no interest in it at all.
Right when I got to New Zealand, I met a girl from Switzerland and we spent three weeks together. She was stunningly beautiful and after we parted ways would meet up somewhere on the planet and take trips together for many years afterwards. We lost touch once I was married but I see she became a Medical Doctor rather late in life. Wonderful thing the internet. She is still easy on the eyes.
Well, my attendance is being requested for kitchen consult. This whole remodel does not excite me in the least. But anything for my gorgeous wife.
RATS! It is only 3:45. I'll have to stare at the rum a while longer.
DEMON'S HOLLOW GAZZETT
Breaking New's !
At, or about midnight Halloween night' an act of vandalism took place at the Demons Hollow Railroad shop's. The security guard on premises, Officer Gidion, had the following statement...
WOOF ! ...... Er, I mean.... I heard a "ruckus" an went to investigate. I do have a set of key's to the building ...... but, I dont have Thumb's .... so I couldnt get into the building to see what the fuss was.
All I could do was stand outside and observe .... and occasionally "bark.
Upon entering the building the next day, the staff was greeted by the following...
A crashed airplane, and a sunken sub ...
a box of now broken railcar's ...
And, aperrently the "Skalawag's" also made an attempt at logging. ( They de-forested a few Woodland Scenic's trees, .... and "DE-RAILED" my half finished logcar,,,
Also found in the building, was Skitter, A rescue cat that had this to say...
" Why are you asking me ??? You know I NEVER get on the workbench " ....... Errr ....... Ok .... so I'm on the woorkbench.....I didn't do it. Ask the kid's.
The following "Suspect's" were rounded up and brought in for Questioning...
ALL were silent on the subject, and pleaded "innocent" to all charges.
They are currently enjoying a bowl of milk while awaiting trial ....... which is pointless because, ..... they are Too Cute to survive in prison !!!!
Rust...... It's a good thing !
HEY ! Top of the page !
Bowl's of milk for everyone !