Water Level RouteI need a vacation, but alas, none on the horizon.
Now that I have not worked for fifteen months, I realize how worthless vacations always were.
It took me a full year to completely decompress from work stresses. I had no idea how much stress I was exposed to until I was removed from it all. A week or two away never got the job done.
Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone. Have a cool glass of wonderful Horchata on me.
We have entered the wonky page numbers. How fast can we get through them... GO!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
HEY If we are in the poke-u-nose, we can stop by Tonio's Pizza in East Stroudsburg... I hear the Pizzas are ok but the sketts are well worth the drive!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
And the skets look lovely all times of the year so I'm in I just hope they can put the raw wildebeest topping on the pizza a moment before it comes out of the oven so it's still rare
TF
Not counting airplane changes in Philadelphia, I have only been in Pennsylvania one time, and that was by mistake.
I was going to an antique store in Wheeling, West Virginia, and I was taking the back roads through Ohio to get there. I mis-navigated and went too far East, and wound up in Pennsylvania.
I drove around, took a few photos, and found a place to eat. That way I can add Pennsylvania to the list of places I have visited, but not really.
I have spent more time in Pennsylvania than I did in either Mexico or Canada!
Judging by what I have seen in the diner this month, I am going to need to get to Pennsylvania again and spend some more time.
One week is typically not enough to fully destress but at least it would be something. Over the holidays I took two weeks off and actually felt ready to come back to work when it was over. That didn't last long!
Pennsylvania is beautiful. So much better to see from a car window than an airport window. Drove through Pennsylvania once during a late spring snow storm. It was my first time seeing it covered in snow and it was breathtaking. Might help that I love snow, but I think anyone could have appreciated it that day.
Mike
Good Morning,
When I was working I found sailing to be a great stress reliever. Even a weekend on the boat could do it. As soon as I stepped on the deck and sat in the cockpit I could feel better and when the wind filled the sails the stress was gone. I travelled a lot for work and a domestic holiday trip always felt like work. Crossing an ocean on a plane was required as was 3 weeks. I had 4 or 5 weeks holidays for most of my work career.
A little more yard clean up is on the agenda this afternoon and I have to fetch mire bird seed. We have gone through 25 lbs, since Saturday. We had a flock of white throated sparrows stop for a couple of days. They sure have a lovely song.
CN Charlie
Good morning
I appreciate it Mike and also Charlie for the kind gestures of easing my mind about the vaccine and alergical reactions. I as well am allergic to penicillin and so many things it takes a while to count. Still a bit skittish but at least I'm considering it, I haven't made up my mind yet.
I seen that Viaduct bridge two more times Ed. I like that area you used to railfan at. Watched the anthracite mine-war video over coffee this morning. It seems it would be pretty hard to mine more coal with only 50,000 workers after 40,000 went to fight for our freedom. What got me is they paid them more but they knocked off early. Someone pays me more I hang around till the Heyday's over!
The dentist yes Athough I have no problems at the time, an appointment for preventive maintenance would be good. Apparently my idea of the dentist lately is picking up a pack of trident Four out of five dentists surveyed did recommend it dontcha know
Kevin, you were Wise to caulk the perimeter of Sir Knightlight. It's not the water, wet-dry wet-dry on exterior products that takes a toll on them. It's the water that just sits there, never drying out becoming stagnant that starts the corrosion.
Garry I'm glad you and the wife were okay after that wicked storm. I actually like a mild storm but not when they damaged things or hurt anybody of course.
I'm glad I noticed the drive seal on the rear end of my truck was leaking, splattering all over the gas tank the other day. I took it to my mechanic Damien's place this morning. Better 2- $300 now than 12- $1400 later.
I chose to ride my mountain bike home because it was such a beautiful morning. I was fortunate enough to get held up by my little blue friends on the way.
Notice the fuel economy sign? He gets way better mileage than my truck to say the least and has more power doing it.
Those crabapple trees sure are gorgeous in the spring with the happy chirps coming out of them. A picture sure does nothing for the vibrant color and the great smell of those things.
Lunchtime! Have a great afternoon gentlemen
Good afternoon all.
Zoe - A Coke float please. Thanks.
Glad to see JR stopped by. Now, where are you CudaKen?
If I can get this to work, here is my capture of the "new" Reading unit, with a surprise debris strike at the crossing to go along with it.
Hopefully the embed works...
TF - Nice catch of the local.
Mike (Waterlevelroute) - You must not have been in my neck of the woods during that snowstorm... You would not have enjoyed it while driving through if you were not used to it. Lake effect snow storms are not fun to drive in most times...
Kevin - That area is a combobulated mess to navigate through.... Friends of mine were travelling to Pittsburgh (near the airport) and ended up in Wheeling WV...
Lion - I believe I have had Tonio's once... Years back when we vacationed in the poke-e-onose one summer. Tried to get in to the raceway on our way home, but they were hosting practice that day, so no go on entry... But saw all the carriers arriving, so there was that.
Trains - Got a couple of covered hoppers painted, will do decals later this week. A box car got it's first "patch-job" coat yesterday, but will need a second later.
Well, I need to get the ribs started for tonights dinner...
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.
YAY! Looks like the video embed worked!
For those interested, the debris strike occurs right around the 1:10 mark.
And yes, the RR got a call about the issue.
I was beginning to wonder when the stackers were going to end. I think I'll go back and count them now
P.S. Ricky's a Post Hog!
Speaking of dentists, I just got back from one. I have to go again.
Not my favorite thing to do. Or a visit to the physical therapist. Maybe I'm older than I think.
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."
157...... That's a lot! Kids don't try this at home
Just got back from my physical. All is good, and I am ready to hit the road!
I am very excited for some new adventure.
Good morning from the Sunny West Coast where it is 23c.
I loved my job and would do it again for another 36 years in a heartbeat. We had 23 positions in Vancouver and they were never all filled. There were around a dozen of us that remained for years and the rest came and went not being able to handle the pace. As a result, we were short-staffed and the regulars worked copious amounts of hours and were paid really well and treated like gold.
Stress would get to those that did not stay long but those of us that did stay were never the least bit stressed as we knew there was no point in stressing over anything beyond our control. Mistakes could cost six figures in the wink of an eye and I know we never made one.
I got eight weeks of vacation every year and three weeks sick time that accumulated for 36 years. We were allowed to take as much time off as we wanted as we would often just hit the exhaustion wall.
I had my own parking spot at Vancouver Airport and there were a few times I walked into the office at the end of the day, looked at my computer to see if there were empty seats on a plane going someplace warm, and tell the boss I would be back in a month. I would phone my parents or sister to tell them I was bugging out and grab the go-bag I always had in my car and go get on a plane.
I remember sitting on a plane that was going to Hawaii one Sunday morning after a 15-hour shift and two of the guys from the airline in their dirty coveralls walked down the aisle and back and as they came by I said "how many Mike" the response was 87. The lady across the aisle from me said 87 what? I said "kids". Why are they counting the kids? Because the plane is so close to maximum takeoff weight they count the kids and subtract 28kgs per kid. The look of terror as we rolled down the runway was memorable. Yet I bet she drove to the airport in a car that was more likely to kill her.
Played my guitar for three hours this morning as the fingers were working pretty well. Even got halfway through Classical Gas before they crapped out.
My trainroom is now empty of all the boxes that were moved into it for the renovations and is looking quite inviting again, I think I hear a lonesome whistle calling. My perfect wife also gave it a really good cleaning that I was expecting to have to do myself.
The kid is coming for lunch and the wife is making eggs benedict with smoked salmon instead of ham. Can't wait for that.
Charlie, I love sailing and you are right there is nothing more relaxing. I sailed through the Whitsunday Islands in Australia and I hope to do it again before I croak. We would drop anchor and just go diving right off the boat and watch the sun go down with a drink in hand. One of my best trips. I took 3 months off for that trip with my paycheck going in the bank every two weeks while I was there.
My boss had a Fraser 36 that was not far from the airport. If we had a flight delay that could often be hours long we would go sailing while getting paid the whole time. Your tax dollars at work. I had two radios and a phone so always knew where the plane was.
John Deere time.
All the best to all.
Got to love a railroad that has its own airforce. I have been on this very plane to Hawaii more than once.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
A confession:
Before I got interested in railroads, I pronounced this month's railroad the same way we did as kids playing Monopoly: We pronounced Reading as reeding. I still catch myself pronouncing it that way.
ricktrains4824You must not have been in my neck of the woods during that snowstorm.
A dumb question maybe. Can a steam whistle work with compressed air?
https://shackeltonauctions.hibid.com/catalog/280411/elgin-county-railway-museum-auction-starts-closing-may17-6pm/?
Good Afternoon,
I was doing yard work when I heard the drone of radial engines. It was a water bomber on a spring test. I thought they had retired the radial engine planes. What a glorious sound!
Ed, could you give Ken a call?
Hello Railfans!
Top of the day to yas! Pretty good day outside to do some chores - so i did. Now the rest of the evening can be used for important things like.... TRAINS!
Batman) Yes you can use compressed air to blow a whistle. However, it wont have the 'full bodied' sound youd get from steam. Steam being heavier than air, the saturated air hits the walls of the whistle body with a little more 'oomfff'. Plus the condensate all over the inside of the whistle will change the sound slightly. Not having the condensate blown out with the expelled air as you would with steam will give you a cleaner, more 'trebley' sound. In other words - itll work, but you wont have that deep, rich tone.
If your in short supply of hot, saturated air.... an ex-wife will work.
PS: nice 747. didnt even know that existed. Looks more like its in Daylight colors than CP colors.
York) tis ok, i pronounce things oddly some would say. And I been into railroads before i took my first baby bottle. And after all these years i still get a kick out of folkses pronouncing "PERE" as "Pierre".
Kevin) Glad to see you chose a knight and not a pink flamingo
Yall have a great evening - remember - MODEL RAILROADING IS FUN!
Clear Ahead!
Douglas
CNCharlieEd, could you give Ken a call?
I'll be sure to do that tonight
Cheers, Ed
Track fiddler I was beginning to wonder when the stackers were going to end. I think I'll go back and count them now P.S. Ricky's a Post Hog! TF
I may be a Post Hog....
But how else are we gonna get past the craziness of this page and onto the even more crazy next page?
Thought I would share a couple of pics from my capture of the Reading Lines Heritage unit that day.
First - The "debris" car -
Damaged Well Car by Richard W, on Flickr" alt="Broken Railing Car" />
Yes, I DID "flinch" at the point of impact. I was ready to duck/run, whatever was needed, if needed. (Glad the video recorder was on the tripod, and it was set up closer than I was standing with my camera....) This photo was taken with my DSLR from my standing location a bit farther from trackside.
And, that "debris strike" is exactly why I set up back from the tracks, and always watch the train cars approaching me, although with the relative small size, compared to the actual train itself, I never seen the railing issue until it hit the crossing.
Next, a "close-up screen grab from the video -
Reading 22K Closeup by Richard W, on Flickr" alt="Reading 22K closeup" />
And, the remaining "still shots" from my DSLR camera -
Reading 1067 on 22K through North East Pa. by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr" alt="Reading 22K 1" />
Reading Heritage leads NS 22K by Richard W, on Flickr" alt="Reading 22K 2" />
Yes, there is a curve to the roadway there, so there is a second "extra" crossing signal, with the lights angled so approaching vehicle traffic are able to see it earlier than they could otherwise.
They kinda got in my way though....
Thanks for counting the 157 cars. Let's me know I'm not the only crazy one...
Time to get the cake frosted before Masked Singer comes on.
ricktrains4824 Thanks for counting the 157 cars. Let's me know I'm not the only crazy one...
It was my pleasure counting cars today. In Vegas I count cards
Relax Ricky, you ain't crazy
Four out of five psychiatrists surveyed recommended model railroading
P.S. I wonder how many more crazy forum members counted the cars after I did?
A steam whistle blow at Cass:
Brian might know his whistles but he aint' so hot with a video production
As Douglas points out the whistles lack "presence" when run on air, but better than nuthin'.
Toot-toot!
Looking for a nice Alco 244 sound ftrom this "hammerhead" RS-3? Not here This guy was re-engined with an EMD 567:
We have the wood stove fired up again!!! 34° F here. Brrr.
Take a look at the offerings of the Lehigh Valley Railroad:
Here's a nice overview:
https://www.american-rails.com/lv.html
That Cornell Red was a pretty neat shade. In later years the LV used variations of the color that had many modelers up-in-arms about the correct look for the painted locos.
LV, Sayre, Pennsylvania, 1973 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Careful with that throttle, Lehigh Lucy!
Touring LV 211 - September 2017 by Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, on Flickr
Lehigh? Glad you asked:
During the American Revolution the Liberty Bell was sequestered in a church in Northampton (1777), which, when the county was formed in 1812, became the county seat and was later renamed Allentown (1838). The county’s name is derived from Lechauwekink (later shortened to Lecha), the Delaware Indian name for the Lehigh River, meaning “where there are forks.” With the advent of the Lehigh Canal (1829), the city developed as a centre for anthracite coal, iron, cement, and silk.
Good evening
I got my truck back earlier this evening and got caught in the rain riding my bike on the way to get it.
Damien informed me there was something else wrong he had to repair as well. My oil pressure sensor was out and spewing oil. I told him when I got there the gauge was up and down and I thought I was adding oil too often. He said I was lucky because it would have only got worse. Good thing it got caught in time, you can lose an engine over that.
Well, I'm hitting the rack. Have a restful night my friends and I'll see you in the morning.
I have been digging holes and planting my new babies in the front garden area.
We had stuffed chicked breasts and mixed vegetables for dinner, which was very good.
Sir Knightlight is steadily standing his assigned post. He sure is a reliable fellow.
Not much else going on, and I am tired.
See you all tomorrow.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
gregcgrowing up, my mom told stories of growing up in the "foot" of the Mahanoy Plane
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning Diners. Toast and tea, Flo, please.
Just a quick visit to the Diner. Taking Dawn to hospital for regular checks.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Track fiddlerGood morning
Yes, it sure is! I'm ready to hit the lower berth. Had a good night of wiring up a signal and working on a scratchbuilt sand tower. I'll nap for a while and get up around 1 to greet the day.
Where has Dave HOn3 Critter been?
LV, Newark, New Jersey, United States by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Time for a donut for the rest of you folks
donuts by Edmund, on Flickr
I'll save a custard-filled for later.
Yes, this bridge CAN support three PAs!
DH, Ninevah, New York, 1973 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Rather nicely, I might add.