Hi folks!
We have four days to go before we need to move the Diner. In June we had three good ideas which I suggested that we follow in the order in which they were suggested. That put us in California in July thanks to John (York1). Thank you for all the great contributions! The next suggestion by Paul (Lazers) was to visit some short lines which, unless there are some objections, would be a great theme for August. We also have Jim's (up831) in reserve for September.
Please let me know if you are happy with the above. Silence will be treated as a 'YES' vote!
I don't want to hog the relocation of the Diner. If you want to do it, please speak up and I will gladly step aside. I will even help you with it if need be.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dianne and I are going on a train trip!! We have booked a date in late September to spend the day visiting the Agawa Canyon via the Agawa Canyon train tour.
https://agawatrain.com/
The 10 hour tour starts in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and makes its way north along the shores of Lake Superior and into the Agawa canyon. The scenery is fantastic, and it will be even more so because the fall colours will be in their full splendor.
The train stops in the Agawa canyon for 90 minutes before returning to Sault Ste. Marie, which Canadians affectionately refer to as 'the Soo'. There is also an American Sault. Ste. Marie (right across the river from the Canadian Soo that flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron), also referred to as 'the Soo'.
One interesting fact about the train is that, if you want to go canoeing, hunting or fishing in the back country, the train will stop wherever you want it to, and it will pick you up whenever you are scheduled to come out of the bush. Bringing a canoe along is no problem, nor is hauling out your catch.
The last time we were on the train was in the mid 80s. Then it was pulled by Algoma Central FPs.
We have rented a cottage right on Lake Superior for a week so we will turn the trip into a mini vacation.
hon30critterDianne and I are going on a train trip!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I hope you both have a Great Time, Dave, but I do expect photos!
I do plan on taking lots of pictures. I hope they will still allow us to lean out of the vestibule windows to get shots of the train in the curves and on the bridges.
I also hope that the weather cooperates. September on Lake Superior can range from hot and sunny to gale force cold winds with snow and rain in a very short period of time!
Good morning, everyone. It's time for the best meal of the day -- breakfast.
We had a nice rain come through last night. It was nice because ... the grass is too wet to cut today, so I will have to find something else to do.
I got the insurance settlement on a new roof. The hail about a month ago did a real number on some houses. My roof damage pales next to some neighbors who lost all their siding and had all the windows broken out.
Dave, your plans for the diner sound great to me. I will have to travel around my area to get some photos. We have several short lines here. Your train trip sounds great!
One more shot of Amtrak's Surfliner in California:
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."
MisterBeasley It seemed like a lot of passengers were just there to eat.
I have a few friends that go on cruises. They tell me things like "You would not believe the food, you can eat anything at any time you like, all you want".
That does not appeal to me. I love food, but not buffets. I would rather spend hours at home preparing a wonderfully decadent huge meal for myself from scratch than go eat a mass quantitiy from a steam tray bar.
The only exception is about once a year I do like to visit a highly-rated oriental buffet if I am travelling. Oh... and of course I love a visit to a good Brazillian Steakhouse.
Going on a cruise just to eat at buffets seems like a weird way to spend a vacation.
hon30critterDianne and I are going on a train trip!! We have booked a date in late September to spend the day visiting the Agawa Canyon via the Agawa Canyon train tour.
That sounds like a lot of fun. I did a quick Google, and it looks breath-taking. Please do share some pictures when you get back.
York1My roof damage pales next to some neighbors who lost all their siding and had all the windows broken out.
After Hurricane Charley I had my house upgraded to Cat-5 Dade County Standards. Since then, I have made it through every storm with much lesss damage than all my neighbors. I also do not have a fence or a pool enclosure. Those are always destroyed.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I vote for the Short Line option. In four years here in Delaware, I have only seen a few strings of rolling stock, mostly grain hoppers because about the only industry of any size that uses railroad shipping is poultry, or "Big Chicken."
The closest track to me is less than ten miles away, but I've never seen a train there. In a state as small as Delaware, pretty much any line will be, by definition, a short line.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleyI vote for the Short Line option.
I vote for that as well.... Might be able to put up a bunch of photos from the FLRR and maybe even the RG&V Museum (Guess that would qualify as a "short line"....).
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
California Is A Beautiful Place
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
I lost my sense of smell. I can bury my nose in a jar of Vick's Vap-O-Rub and inhale deeply... and nothing.
This is weird.
I just saw Tstage is in Users Online box!
I hope he comes back. He has been missed.
SeeYou190 I lost my sense of smell. I can bury my nose in a jar of Vick's Vap-O-Rub and inhale deeply... and nothing. This is weird. -Kevin
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Janie.
Taste and smell. Since my bout of Covid most days I have lost both senses of taste and smell. Some days it returns. Strange.
Food on cruise ships. Admittedly we eat a bit more food than normal. We are on holiday. A nice meal served in the restaurant is for us. No. No. No. We do not like the buffet.
Then there are people who come into the restaurant and want a table next to a window. (Other diners sitting away from the windows glance now and again to admire such a lovely view.) The people sit at the table near the window. Then ask for the blinds to be lowered. The sun is in their eyes!!! Why do they ask to sit there then spoil everybodys enjoyment?
Rant over.
Short lines for August gets my vote.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Attuvian1Is taste gone to the same extent?
No one ever gave me a compliment on my taste, as I recall
Nice!
REA_SP2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Taste is not completely gone. Everything tastes bland and watered-down. My coffee tastes terrible. I barely taste salt at all.
Buttery flavors still seem strong. I ate some popcorn, and all I tasted was the butter. It was gross.
I still taste sweetness, but not flavors. I have some assorted fruit bars, and they all taste exactly the same to me now.
NorthBritSome days it returns. Strange.
If my sense of taste returned I would order a pizza immediately.
hon30critter I suggested that we follow in the order in which they were suggested. That put us in California in July thanks to John (York1).
Is THAT why we have been seening so many California ads. We never see any New York ads.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BroadwayLionIs THAT why we have been seening so many California ads. We never see any New York ads.
Are you talking about the bottom pop-ups?
If so, all mine lately have been for companies wanting to manage my employees benefit accounts for me.
Those ads are a hoot sometimes.
How come I get a 403 on other threads?
Rather frustrating after typing anything.
This is strange. I feel hungry, and I know I should have something to eat.
However, since everything tastes weird/bad, I don't want to eat anything.
hon30critterThe next suggestion by Paul (Lazers) was to visit some short lines which, unless there are some objections, would be a great theme for August. We also have Jim's (up831) in reserve for September.
This all sounds like a good plan to me.
Thanks Dave!
Good morning, everyone. Time for bacon, eggs, and black coffee. I sure hope I don't lose my sense of smell. I don't think bacon will be the same if I can't smell it cooking.
Everyone in my family has been through the virus except for my wife and I. Most lost their sense of taste and smell, but it returned fairly quickly. By the way, they were all vaccinated and boosted.
I loved the food on the cruises. We didn't cruise to eat, but it sure was nice to sit down and order great food.
Speaking of cruises, an incident I just remembered -- a man was obnoxious in the casino, got put out, caused issues other places on the ship, and was finally put off the ship when we docked at Key West. That was just the second day of a week-and-a-half cruise. I thought what a waste of his money -- I doubt the cruise line refunded much.
I was laying track for a siding yesterday, and I ran out of rail joiners. I thought I had more, but evidently not. I decided that I would just order some rather than drive 50 miles to the train store. When I went to order, I saw that the $3.00 box of joiners would have $8.00 shipping. I decided to spend the gas money instead and drive to the store. I can walk around and enjoy myself there, even though the gas money will be more than the shipping.
Caltrains runs the commuter service for the San Francisco peninsula, from San Francisco to San Jose. They are electrifying the line, and the tests of the new equipment is taking place. This train was tested being towed by a diesel, but will eventually use the catenary.
I can't say I like the look of this electric locomotive. The new train would look much nicer with an E or F locomotive pulling it.
Have a good day, everyone.
The GF had a mild case of Covid last Thanksgiving. She lost her sense of taste for months. One of the first things she finally began tasting again was Bourbon, which she just loves.
MisterBeasley One of the first things she finally began tasting again was Bourbon, which she just loves.
The list of things I enjoy that involve tasting is huge.
I tried to coax the taste buds back to life with one of their favorite treats... Red Beans And Rice.
-Photographs by Kevin Parson
No luck, they did not taste any of it.
I am run down and going to bed.
Someone else might want to start Weekend Photo Fun after midnight. I will be sound asleep by then.
I did post an MTA video about the machinist a few pages back. Here's another:
For all to enjoy.
Good morning, diners. It's actually cool out this morning.
Most mornings when I walk at 6:00 a.m., I open the door and am hit in the face with hot, humid air. This morning, it is 58°! What a break.
I need to start taking a few short trips around my area to see what photos of short line railroads I can get. This will be fun.
One photo of a train in wine country, and then a couple of photos of California's future trains. We may never live to see California finish their high speed rail, but it's something fun to envision.
Progress today:
Future?:
Have a great day, everyone.
Good morning everyone.
Drinking coffee when you cannot enjoy the aroma is not very satisfying.
Florida could have had a high-speed rail system 15 years ago, but it was not going to be. Now we are scrambling to put something together with Brightline, but nonsense has taken its toll on that project too.
California will beat us, again.
My boss just called and asked if I can go into work today. 8 hours of O.T.
I missed five days with Covid, so sure, I will be there.
This is the first time they have called me in.
Don't complain about your train service. Other than one Amtrak connection that just cuts through Delaware's northern tip, we have no passenger rail here. (No commercial air service, either.)
Delaware once had quite a few railroads, but now, all we have is one short line that delivers chicken feed.
The powers that be don't seem to understand that pricing high-speed trains to compete dollar-for-dollar with airplanes only targets a small part of the traveling public. A family of four vacationing on Florida is going to realize that the total price of a bullet train ride for the family is going to make them rent a car every time.
I once looked into going from Boston to Florida on Amtrak. The fare was hundreds of dollars more on Amtrak, and the trip took 30 hours vs. 3 hours by air.