Jeffrey's Trackside Diner for September 2021 - Featuring Stations & Depots

[SeeYou190]

My daughter just sent me a picture from DragonCon in Atlanta with one of the props I made for her.

It did me so much good to build those props for her last weekend. I had not done any hobby builds in quite a while. It was great for me to do this again.

I wish I could be there with her.

I need to start on trains again soon!

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Please join me for a Golden Monkey by Victory brewing. This Belgian style spiced trippel is one of my favorites.

-Kevin

[moelarrycurly4]

More Big Boy at Poplar Bluff MO. 

Garry Thanks for comments on photos

 

 

 

[moelarrycurly4]

 

In Keeping with the theme here is the MOPAC (Now Amtrak) depot in Poplar Bluff MO.

 

Close up of the former Frisco Depot in Poplar Bluff MO. It Houses the MOARK railroad museum. 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening .. 

Rich ..... Thanks for the correction. I recall being in the big waiting room before Amtrak. 

MLC.... You are welcome. Thanks for posting more pictures of 4014. 

The station in this picture is where I used to catch a ride on a Burlington commuter train to Chicago when I was a kid. Clarendon Hills, IL. 

 

 

 

 

[SeeYou190]

Good evening everyone.

I had my first day of "work" at Home Depot today. I had a meeting at the bank at 9:00, then had to be at work at 10:00.

All I did was watch safety videos for 4 hours. I had 2 1/2 hours sleep last night, and it was shear madness.

I used to be a safety trainer. There was nothing in these videos I had not said myself 1,000 times before. Staying awake was so difficult.

Tomorrow I have six hours of training on the computer system starting at 9:00 AM. It is going to be another long day.

I earned $52.00 gross today, and I spent $98.00 on eBay for some Intermountain Ice Reefers. I sense this job is not going to make much of a financial difference.

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I really love Mozart's Symphony #40. I have been listening to my recording of it almost every day for the last week.

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Here is a picture of the "Gray" station. Unfortunately I have no notes for where or when I took this photograph.

-Kevin

[gmpullman]

SeeYou190

I earned $52.00 gross today, and I spent $98.00 on eBay for some Intermountain Ice Reefers.

You stick with the reefers and hands-off my Intermountain Pacemaker box cars, deal? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294314081723

I just tossed two dozen old blue-box ones in the recycling bin. I see some listed on ebay at $25 each. There goes my kid's inheritance!

These I just bought must be really old stock, they have all-plastic wheelsets.

---

 Gray Georgia?

https://www.jcnews.com/article/train-depot-purchased-be-moved-soon

 They're being clever here. It WAS in Athens until 1908. How's anybody supposed to catch a train if they keep moving the depot!

---

 

From this:

The Majestic Washington Union Station by Marty Bernard, on Flickr

To this?

Bryan-OH-1989 by Edmund, on Flickr

Well, I guess they both serve the same purpose 

Cheers, Ed

[SeeYou190]

gmpullman

You stick with the reefers and hands-off my Intermountain Pacemaker box cars, deal?

Deal.

I only buy undecorated train cars as a general rule.

I need to get up for w**k in 6 hours, I should go to bed.

W**k stinks.

-Kevin

["JaBear"]

shove by Bear, on Flickr

[NorthBrit]

Good morning Diners.  A large coffee please, Janie.

 

A quick visit as I am busy today.

 

St Pancras Station.   British Railways wanted to demolish the entire site.   Thankfully the building is now a listed one and has to be protected.   British Railways had let the hotel go without any repairs for a very long time.

Now it has been sold and has been totally renovated.  A place now to be seen in when visiting London.   A beautiful building  indeed.  (IMO)

 

 

David

[York1]

Good morning.  Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.

I'm headed out the door in a couple of minutes, so I need the diner's fast food.

I'm finishing up another house project today, and then I should have some time for the layout.  It hasn't been touched in weeks.

I like all the station photos!

Today's picture is of the Burlington station in Grand Island, about 50 miles west of here.

The station has been renovated and is used for weddings, receptions, etc.

On the left, the old freight depot is now the home of the Tri City Model Railroad.  They have a very nice layout that takes up the entire depot.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning. 

I'm showing off my model of "Skookum" in Weekend Photo Fun, and I'll show another picture here. Shelley gave it to me for my birthday over 30 years ago.

 

I will be sharing my birthday cake with you today.  Lots and lots of candles. LOL 

[York1]

Happy birthday, Garry!  I have a feeling quite a few of us in the diner have lots and lots of candles on our cakes.

["JaBear"]

Happy Birthday, Garry!!!!

 

Gidday Chloe, could I please have my morning coffee down in the back booth where I’ll be perusing the goings on in the Diner.

 

WARNING!!! More of the Bears holiday snaps, and none are railway related!!!

 

Christchurch, and its port, Lyttleton have long been associated as departure points to the Antarctic Continent. “Operation Deep Freeze” the aerial resupply, is currently conducted by ski equipped LC-130 Hercules operated by the 109^th Airlift Wing Scotia New York, based from Christchurch International Airport. 

 

 

The celebration of heroic failure is a curious part of the British psyche, two examples that have direct links to New Zealand are the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign of World War 1, and Robert Falcon Scott’s fatal expedition to the South Pole.

 

As an amateur student of history, I’ve been fascinated by both, and while on my holiday a visit to the Canterbury Museum and the International Antarctic Centre, I increased my knowledge.

 

In last month’s Diner I posted a photo of a manpowered railway jigger, to which Ed offered a photo of dog hauled speeder, which brings me to this first photo. Scott’s “Terra Nova” expedition was to use motor sledges, ponies and dogs as transportation, but due to failures with the motor sledges, and ponies, and an initial distrust of dogs, Scott resorted to man hauling, (which he believed he would have to do any way, once the party had reached the Polar Plateau), with fatal results. (Roald Amundsen using dogs and skis had beaten Scott to the South pole by 34 days, and returned intact.)

 

Man hauling by Bear, on Flickr

 

A monument, in Lyttleton, to the “Huskies” that were an important factor in Antarctic transportation until due to environmental reasons, they were removed from the continent in 1994.

 

Husky by Bear, on Flickr

 

This Dispatch Motor Company of London,motor tractor was “used” by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition, 1914-17, his failed attempt to cross the Antarctic Continent.

 

Sir Ernest Shackletons Sledge Tractor by Bear, on Flickr

Sir Ernest Shackletons sledge tractor1 by Bear, on Flickr

 

Antarctica wasn’t crossed, overland via the South Pole, until the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957-58.This model 743 Tucker Sno-Cat, one of the four that were part of that expedition…

 

Tucker Sno-Cat by Bear, on Flickr

 

… and this converted Ferguson TE20 tractor was one used by Sir Ed Hillary for laying supply depots for the crossing party, from the opposite side of the South Pole and his subsequent trip to the Pole, the first-time motor vehicles reached there…

Sir Eds Fergie by Bear, on Flickr

 

… and this De Havilland Canada DH2 Beaver of the RNZAF Antarctic Flight was one of the aircraft that provided air support for the expedition.

 

RNZAF Antarctic Flight Beaver by Bear, on Flickr

 

This former USN Douglas R4D-5 served as part of “Operation Deep Freeze”.

 

R4D-5 by Bear, on Flickr

 

This Hagglunds tracked articulated all-terrain vehicle is similar to the ones currently used in Antarctica, and while not built for comfort or speed, they sure beat walking! We went on a ride around the obstacle course in one and its surprising what they can handle.

Hagglunds by Bear, on Flickr

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.

Cheers, the Bear.

[SeeYou190]

Garry!

Bear: I love all the Antarctic equipment pictures. It is all very interesting to see.

One of my former employees spent a year in Antarctica. He did not have very many stories. Apparently it was very boring 99% of the time.

I survived my first real eight hour day at w**k. So far I have not been thinking about it at all. It better stay that way. As soon as the stress follows me home, I am out of there.

Another depot, and again, I do not know where this one was photographed. My only note on this photograph says "Depot Today Number 2".

-Kevin

[Water Level Route]

Evening Fellas,

Sharing an older photo of the old PM train station in Ludington, MI.  Honestly doesn't look much different today.  Just more boards over the windows.  The tracks in front of it have been pulled up and that area is now a gravel parking lot for a next door factory.  My old neighbor got us permission to go in it one night so I can say I've at least seen the inside.  It had long since been converted from a public station to yard crew facilities that had also been torn out.  Still, you could make out where the old ticket counter was, and where the agent would have been in that bay window, there were still the old telephone plug-ins labeled "Roundhouse", "Yard Master", etc.  That was pretty neat.  Found a bunch of old bills of lading and other related paperwork.  Nothing worth anything.  There was still an old bagagge cart in there with a builders plate dated for 1938 (I think).  That was cool, but I didn't figure I had anywhere to put it, so didn't bother asking about taking it.  It obviously hadn't been used in decades.  Where the boxcar is sitting is a long shelter that I'm honestly not sure if it was orinigally intended as some sort of sheltered location for freight, or a passenger platform.  There were no clues to point me either direction there.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy .... 

John York 1, Bear, Kevin ...... Thank you very much for the birthday wishes. 

Bear..... Those are interesting photos of Antartic transportation. 

Mike ...... I like the Ludington station. 

Kevin .... I like that station also. 

 

Cheers. 

[York1]

Good morning, diners.

It's sprinkling out -- I will wait with my walk until I see what it decides to do -- clear up or rain.

During the summer, I sleep in our basement.  It's dark, cool, and quiet.  This morning at 4:00 a.m., I had a loud cricket act as an alarm clock.  I could not find it.  Everytime I turned the light on, it went quiet.  I guess I will have to have a nap today.

This is kind of a neat Rock Island station in Lincoln, NE.  It is now a bank:

 

While living in New Orleans, one of our favorite places to go was the plantation Oak Alley.  Its 28 Live Oak trees planted in two rows perfectly framed the house.  The house was open to the public, and it was a great place to relax, have a drink, and enjoy the views.  The row of trees directly overlooked the Mississippi River.

This is the before and after hurricane photos.  The house had very little damage, and the trees will recover, but it sure looks sick right now:

 

Have a good Saturday, everyone.

["JaBear"]

GB by Bear, on Flickr

[NorthBrit]

Good afternoon Diners.  A large coffee please, Janie.

A belated   Happy Birthday, Garry.

Love the Beartoon

Lovely pictures of stations.

 

A Station Building I like.   Brechin, Angus, Scotland

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brechin_railway_station#/media/File:Brechin_City_railway_station.jpg

 

David

[Water Level Route]

Garry, how did I miss your birthday?!   Sorry.  Happy Birthday!

Bear, those are cool equipment pics.  Thanks for sharing.

Ready to watch some college football today, and then take my youngest daughter driving later.  Have a good day everyone!

[richhotrain]

Garry, isn't it still September 3rd somewhere?  

Rich

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

GB by Bear, on Flickr

 

 

BEAR !!! ......... That is HILARIOUS ! ... 

THANK YOU !

You must have spent a lot of time on that Bear Toon.  Nice job of adding smoke and steam, too. I hope you don't mind, but I copied the image so I can show it to other people. 

 

Rich, Mike, and David: ..... Thanks for the birthday greetings.  

 

 

[MisterBeasley]

Wow, I went to a club open house and train show this morning!

The show was outside in the parking lot.  Beautiful day.  The layouts were inside.  They had just moved into this slightly larger building over the summer.  It's a small club with more interest in O scale than HO or N.

[BATMAN]

Good morning from the left side.

Happy Belated Birthday Garry here's to many more.

Just got off the bike and need to stop dripping so it is a good time to hit the diner for re-hydration. Six mugs of coffee, please.

 Got my Daughter to Victoria and all moved in and stocked up. I visited my cousin overnight and had to leave early so did not get out on the water. I did enjoy as I always do the trip back and forth to the Island. I just park my butt on a life jacket locker and take it all in. I was booked back on the 1800hrs ferry but was ready to come home early. Checked for space on the 1500hrs sailing and it showed room so I made a beeline to the terminal which Google maps showed as 34 minutes away. I drove through the ticket booth and right onto the ferry and the ramp went up seconds after I turned off the engine. Perfect timing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.C. Ferries has 35 boats and it was a busy weekend for them, our boat was full of U-Hauls taking the kids back to school. It felt like the first day going to Hogwarts.

Had to pick a mutt up at the airport yesterday that is in town for a good time with one of our dogs. I will be taking her back in a few days. 

Does anyone want to guess where this is?

I am going to hit the shower and then the trainroom.

All the best to all.

 

 

[SeeYou190]

A few months ago I posted about custom pieces being made for the board game Ticket To Ride.

The artwork used on the tins for these pieces is available from the artist, Julianne Griepp.

None of this represents actual trains, but I love the style she used.

I ordered prints of The Mercury and The General.

-Kevin

["JaBear"]

Heartland Division CB&Q

I hope you don't mind, but I copied the image so I can show it to other people. 

Gidday Garry, I certainly don’t mind, in fact I’m rather flattered.

Besides it’s your original photo which I stole took liberties with!!

Heartland Division CB&Q

You must have spent a lot of time on that Bear Toon.

I generally use GIMP to add the effects to a photo, and the length of time, generally not too long, required depends on how out of practise I am using GIMP.

 

I’m pleased you got a laugh.

Cheers, the Bear.

["JaBear"]

BATMAN

Does anyone want to guess where this is?

It's a "Sweet" photo! 

[BATMAN]

I had this little snipet from long ago and my cousin in England asked me to send it along as she wanted to pass it to a train-nut co-worker. Most of you have seen it, but for those that haven't......

The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number.

Why was that gauge used?

Well, because that's the way they built them in England, and English engineers designed the first US railroads.

Why did the English build them like that?

Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the wagon tramways, and that's the gauge they used.

So, why did 'they' use that gauge then?

Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they had used for building wagons, which used that same wheel spacing.

Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing?

Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break more often on some of the old, long distance roads in England . You see, that's the spacing of the wheel ruts.

So who built those old rutted roads?

Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe (including England ) for their legions. Those roads have been used ever since.

And what about the ruts in the roads?

Roman war chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match or run the risk of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome , they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. Therefore the United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Bureaucracies live forever.

So the next time you are handed a specification/procedure/process and wonder 'What horse's ass came up with this?', you may be exactly right. Imperial Roman army chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses. (Two horses' asses.)

Now, the twist to the story:

When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at their factory in Utah . The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains, and the SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track, as you now know, is about as wide as two horses' behinds.

So, a major Space Shuttle design feature, of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system, was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's ass. And you thought being a horse's ass wasn't important? Ancient horse's asses control almost everything......

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Bear .... Thanks again. I have never used GIMP. 

Mr. B ...... Did you purchase any good stuff at the train show ? 

Brent ...... I like the photos of BC. Also, that's a long, funny joke about track guage. 

 

[BATMAN]

 

 

BATMAN

Does anyone want to guess where this is?

 

 

It's a "Sweet" photo!