Apologies for my recent absence.
We continue our journey arriving in Cairns to take a journey on the Savannahlander, a fantastic outback rail motor journey over four days that departs from Cairns. I had the privilege of riding it at a VERY discounted rate back in 2007 and even got to sit in the drivers seat
On board the 50 year old rail motors you travel up the Kuranda range through plenty of tunnels on narrow ledges in some places with spectacular scenery and rainforest. A short stop at Kuranda before moving onwards gradually seeing the scenery change into the "Savannah" or the outback. You eventually reach Forsayth 450 odd kilometres from Cairns on day two before beginning the return journey the next morning.
Along the way you will encounter alot of Wildlife such as Emu's, Kangaroo's etc and you will also see where the rivers start to flow in different directions, one draining to the east coast and the next draining north to the gulf! That does play a trick on your mind. With plenty of time for photo stops you can gather many great images, of which I'll share a few from my trip, definitely something I want to do again.
Above is morning tea trackside at a staff exchange and cabinet to phone train control.
At Mount Surprise a lovely small town
and the following two shots show some of the great trackwork, mostly the Railmotors take it well and can do 40-60km/h. Some sections are worse and can only manage 10km/h.
Enjoy!
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
morning coffee in the diner..
GOOD SATURDAY MORNiNG!!!
Today is Saturday, August 17th, 2013!!!
MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!!!
Todays Clean Limerick:
A canner, exceedingly canny,
One morning remarked to his granny,
"A canner can can
Anything he can;
But he can't can a can, now can he?
Anchors Aweigh, my friend, Anchors aweigh:
Meaning:
Said in preparation of getting underway, especially of a ship
Origin:
There is some doubt in the public mind as to how this phrase should be spelled. Internet searches for 'anchors away' bring up many thousands of hits. The correct spelling is 'anchors aweigh'. As with other frequently seen misspellings, like 'baited breath, and 'just desserts', the 'away' version does make some intuitive sense. The supposed shout of 'anchors away' fits well with the image of ropes being cast off and the anchor being hoisted as a ship prepares to sail away across the sea. There's some justification for assuming the 'away' spelling, as the first known usage of the term in print comes from John Smith's A Sea Grammar, 1627, in which Smith uses that form:
'What is the Anchor away?'
The meaning of the word was nevertheless not the current 'away - removed to a distance', but rather the 'aweigh - being weighed' meaning.
The word 'aweigh' or, as it was often spelled in early citations, 'a-weigh', is now only used in this little phrase. An anchor that is aweigh is one that has just begun to put weight onto the rope or chain by which it is being hauled up. Sailors were fond of adding 'a' to words to make new ones, for example, 'astern', 'aboard', ashore', 'afloat', 'adrift', 'aground', etc.
'A-weigh' is synonymous with the old and now defunct terms 'a-peak' and 'a-trip'. 'A-peak' was the Anglicized version of the French 'a pic', that is, vertical. It is easy to see why the French chose the word vertical to describe an anchor which was being hauled onboard ship. 'A-trip' just meant 'about to be underway', that is, 'on a trip'. This wasn't only reserved for anchors; 'a-trip' was a general sailing term that was used for anything that was about to begin.
Admiral William Henry Smyth, in his nautical dictionary The Sailor's Word-Book, 1867, listed this entry for 'A-trip':
"The anchor is a-trip, or a-weigh, where the purchase has just made it break ground, or raised it clear. Sails are a-trip when they are hoisted from the cap [a thick block of wood], sheeted home, and ready for trimming"...
and for 'Apeek':
"A ship drawn directly over the anchor is apeek"...
The earliest known citation that refers to an anchor being 'aweigh' is in an exchange between two characters in John Dryden's The Tempest, 1670:
Trincalo: Is the Anchor a Peek? Stephano: Is a weigh! is a weigh.
The song Anchors Aweigh was composed by Charles A. Zimmerman in 1906 with lyrics written by Alfred Hart Miles. It was adopted as the official song of the United States Navy:
Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky. We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y. Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh. Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army Grey.
Anchors Aweigh was also a popular musical comedy film of 1945, starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
MAKE it a GREAT day!!!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
howmus Ahhh..... Jake? I hate to tell you this, but there ain't no college in Hammondsport, NY! Is she going to Keuka? If so she will be outside of Penn Yan, NY and near Branchport. (on Keuka Lake) I live about about 20 miles away from Keuka College. If you should get up there, I would be happy to give you a tour of the SLOW RR sometime.... 73
Ahhh..... Jake? I hate to tell you this, but there ain't no college in Hammondsport, NY! Is she going to Keuka? If so she will be outside of Penn Yan, NY and near Branchport. (on Keuka Lake)
I live about about 20 miles away from Keuka College. If you should get up there, I would be happy to give you a tour of the SLOW RR sometime....
73
Perhaps he means Alfred State University? That would be closer I think. Had A GF who went there once...
Gooooooooood Evening. I didn't catch where we are this month so hoping the grill was packed along and open for business, Rerun and I could use a plate of bacon double cheeseburgers right about now.
JIM in CAPE G: Right back atcha Pally!
Not much going on today in Clarence, Iowa...finally fingered-out how to write up a profile piece on THAT new football coach along with a preseason preview. THAT Editor should be clucking like a happy little hen...it's over 1,000 words, which along with some pics of the coach w**king with the kids, should fill some space pretty easily for her on Monday (layout day).
In-between bouts of writer's block, I made some more progress on Elevator G...maybe I'll sully everybody's Saturday with some pics of THAT and the IC/ICG/CCP turntable project as they stand at the moment.
Have a good night everybody and a better tomorrow.
Chris (in Iowa)
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Good Evening, Chloe - I'll just have a RBF for dessert, please. Thanks!
Ulrich, good to see you having a little time away from the campaign trail. Hadn't seen you in here (but then again, neither have I been very regular about showing up) for a while, and was beginning to get a bit worried.
Chris - check your email; had an idea or two for your "Sliced Bread Tutorial" course.
Jeffrey, sounds like your determination and attitude have NOT been slowed down a bit! Nice photo of the (older) layout, also.
Excellent story on the TV news tonight, about a 97 year old woman who refused to cooperate with a couple of teens who came into her grocery/candy store and tried to rob her. She just offered them some Tootsie Rolls instead (and told them to get out)! Police caught the teens - a 13 year old who was talked into being stupid by an (even more stupid) 17 year old teen.
W**k has been, um... interesting lately. Really making me wonder about what else might be out there. Have two co-w**kers leaving on the 30th, two new people (sort of) being trained to replace them, and me assigned part of the time to another (more educational type) program (which isn't as clearly defined as I would like). Those of you who are of a ing persuasion, please put me and w**k on your list.
Tomorrow I will get together for lunch with my buddy Mark again. Need to email him what time I'll be by to pick him up, and which place we'll visit for lunch.
I need to get more efficient with my time. Too much slippage in my wheels - need more sand in my loco, perhaps...
Blessings and prayers,
Jim in Cape G.
Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Thanks for the correction, meant nearby Hammondsport.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
ONR FANJeff I bet in a few months your going to be moving around like you did before. You have lots of learning on how to do things all over again. Your probably going to use muscles that you haven't used before too. You will get there.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
howmusJeffrey, IIRC that shot is from a couple layouts ago?
Gary, the one thing that irks me about WoWP is that the P-51D doesn't have the bubble canopy. However, I think that when I get a new body for it, it will have a bubble canopy.
Hey there everyone!
Jeff: Good to have you back!
First day at college. Today was move in day for some of us. Tomorrow everyone else is going to be coming in. Feels kinda odd to be here. On one hand, it's a huge change, and I mean HUGE! On the other, I was kinda excited to be getting in here. Now I won't be living on campus for the next two months or so, I'll instead be here at PennTech during most of the week, but will be heading home early on Friday if my schedule allows and be going back later on Sunday to start the week again. Honestly, I think I will have some fun here.
However, there's a friend that I pretty much know I will miss. Briana Hollenback. She's to be going to college in Hammondsport, New York in a few weeks, but she'll be living on campus when she gets up there. We've been hanging out lately so I'm feeling better about it, but still a little sad about it. Currently we are making plans for Friday.
Evenin' folks!
Chloe I'll have the BBQ Chicken, potato salad and fresh garden vegetables along with a glass of iced tea this evening.
Been slow around here today... I thought I had posted this morning, but guess I didn't (know I didn't) as I got side tracked... I ran a few errands today, including stocking up on my dark roast coffee and getting some dried fruit and dark chocolate bars down at the natural foods store downtown, buying a rattle can of gray primer for some hobby stuff, and stopping at church to retrieve my radio Shure Mic to use at the reunion next week. I tried to do it all in one round trip, but when I got to the church there was a wedding going on complete with the stretch limo for the wedding party. This was a really stretched limo that was about half a city block long. In fact they couldn't park it in front of the church (some neighbors had taken a couple of spaces) so it was parked blocking the corners of the streets at the corner of the church property so there was only a small lane for anyone to drive through on each street. Of course the driver(s) of the monstrosity were just hanging out and smoking leaning on the limo further causing a distraction... I waited and came back down to church about 45 minutes later. Turns out the wedding was one of those where the couple had rented the Belhurst Castle for the reception and at the last minute decided they wanted to get married in a church..... So they picked ours! Nobody at the wedding was even remotely involved in our church except our staff (for a price I hope...). Never know... Maybe they will come back some day.... Got one of my famous potato salads made for the Museum Picnic tomorrow. I will also be taking my battery powered Black and Decker string trimmer out to do some cleaning up around the yard a bit in anticipation of Diesel Day on Sunday.
Jeffrey, IIRC that shot is from a couple layouts ago?
later!
Today was a good day for sunshine and it looks like the meter will show about 23/24 kWh of power produced. Looks good for the next couple of days also.
Good afternoon. It's 84° with 50% humidity. The high will be 89° but will feel like 93°.Been busy today getting things started with a care provider and home health services. The care provider is just for help with bathing and light housekeeping. Home health care will be providing wound care and some physical therapy. Other than that I have no plans for today.
Late Morning,early Afternoon depending on where you live.
Welcome Back Jeff. Glad you are OK after your look at the sky and clouds.
Currently it is 68 with an expected high of 95.
Another w**k day for me. Gun show in town this weekend, so it should be an interesting few days at the store. Lots of people wanting deals and such. I need a few things at the grocery store, so should stop there before I head to w**k.
Mister B. I just helped one of my daughters with a vehicle. I am on the title, and insured it, but she and her husband actually paid for it. She already drives one of mine, and my other daughter is borrowing another one of mine. She has been borrowing it for 7 months now. The things we do to help our offspring. Of course I do not know what I would do without them.
Prayers to all in need. And especially for you Jeff for a speedy recovery.
Paul
Living in Fernley Nevada, about 30 miles east of Reno, also lived in Oregon and California, but born In Brooklyn NY and raised on Long Island NY
Well
Erm
did the usual Friday errands, the banking, pharmacy,dropped off yet another financial aid form for medical expenses, etc.
My new partial is not in yet, but I will call before My appointed time to see if UPS delivered yet, may still ber able to get it. If not, have to wait til next week.
The weather here has been so cool....how cool is it? it is so cool, the LEAVES ARE ALREADY CHANGING COLORS!! No joke, I couldn't believe it! I hope for a warmer winter than a colder one.
WEll, JEFFREY..HAve a day of it getting used to getting around, A GOOD one that is!
later
Good morning! .... EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS WELCOME IN THE DINER!
I'm happy to see people here who do not normally visit the diner. I encourage you visit the diner when you can, We're interested in your model railroad and other stuff as well. Welcome to Art Hill, Russell, Wilton, Frank, and others I may have missed.
Jeff, we're happy your surgery went as well as can be expected. We continue praying for heeling and for your health. ...... It was good to talk with you on the phone in recent days. I can tell you are a very good person.
Chris ..... Good to see you. If "Sliced Bread; can't learn with normal methods, try buttering her up.
JimCG ... I know you are busy but glad you stopped in.
Ulrich .... Very glad you were here. Your German friendship means much to each of us.
Mr. B....... That's one way to get your daughter to come be with you. You keep the car in her name so she has to come back for its inspection.
Everybody: BE HAPPY!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Morning!!!
Coffee and biscuits and gravy please, thanks.
Gotta make this quick cause the computer’s gonna restart in about 10 minutes for an update.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
HEY good to see you JEFFREY!! I guess they let you out a day early? That’s good. I sure do hope you heal real fast so you can get back to doin what you do. Can’t remember, left or right foot?
Welp, like I said the computer’s gonna reboot in 10. I guess I could say don’t and then restart when I’m done, but Hey. Got some painting done and I have to give second coat this morning. Stood in the door to the trainroom yesterday before w*rk and said to myself, "well, it has been worse." I'll have to take a starting picture someday.
Have to w**k tonight and I have to pick some blackberries. Pretty easy day for me……so far.
Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Welcome back!
And to the rest of you, good morning!
My daughter is driving down from Maine tonight. She has to get her car inspected. It's still legally my car, covered under my insurance, and registered here in Massachusetts. It will be good to see her. She's asked for "an expertly grilled steak" for dinner. I'll see if I can pick up a couple of thick tenderloins, and wrap them in bacon. I made sure to fill the spare propane tank last night so I won't run out at a bad time.
Penny is still in Florida caring for her parents. Her Dad is supposed to be discharged from rehab just after Labor Day, so she' planning her return for a week or so after that. She's at least convinced her folks that they need in-home support on a regular basis. They still are resisting moving to any form of assisted living.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
jeffrey-wimberly The next adventure involved getting on and off the toilet in my fathers bathroom. There's barely enough room for the chair in there. I manged that without incident. Getting out of that hospital gown and into some real clothes was interesting to say the least. I'll have to see if something I can grab or lean against can be put in my room so I can get into my clothes without doing the first seven steps of the ballet. The 'lay down and pull' routine works for most of getting the pants on but there's that point where I have to stand and pull them up the rest of the way. It's going to take some getting used to but I'll be able to adjust to it eventually.
The next adventure involved getting on and off the toilet in my fathers bathroom. There's barely enough room for the chair in there. I manged that without incident. Getting out of that hospital gown and into some real clothes was interesting to say the least. I'll have to see if something I can grab or lean against can be put in my room so I can get into my clothes without doing the first seven steps of the ballet. The 'lay down and pull' routine works for most of getting the pants on but there's that point where I have to stand and pull them up the rest of the way. It's going to take some getting used to but I'll be able to adjust to it eventually.
Jeff I bet in a few months your going to be moving around like you did before. You have lots of learning on how to do things all over again. Your probably going to use muscles that you haven't used before too. You will get there.
Good to have you back, Jeff . Theirs a Vet who lives a few doors from me. I never relalised but he has no legs .i saw him walking & dancing around. But one day I saw him getting into a friends car. No legs !
Take it in your own time .
can I please have Vegimite on toast & a cup of English breakfast tea .Thankyou. Americans & Canadians find it hard to understand me. Fair enough . If its alright with Jeff, please, get him what ever he likes. I'm paying.
Glad to see you here again Jeffrey!
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
jeffrey-wimberly Peekaboo, guess who? Decided I'd pick something obvious so there's no doubt whatsoever. Just then one of the rocks in the driveway decided it didn't like me and rolled under the one of the crutches and threw me off balance and over backward I went. I got a real good look at the sky. Nice and blue with a cloud here and there. I was also quite helpless!
Peekaboo, guess who?
Decided I'd pick something obvious so there's no doubt whatsoever.
Just then one of the rocks in the driveway decided it didn't like me and rolled under the one of the crutches and threw me off balance and over backward I went. I got a real good look at the sky. Nice and blue with a cloud here and there. I was also quite helpless!
Jeff, first of all, welcome back. We all missed you greatly.
Where you went wrong after taking that fall was that you failed to cry out, "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up". That would have sent Life Alert somehow appearing out of nowhere to lend assistance.
Rich
Alton Junction
Jeff,
My first trip to the Diner,,,Hello! everyone,,,anyway,I wanted to read your story,,it appears you have the spirit to be able to learn,what you thought you already knew about getting around,,I was there myself a couple times,,,fortunately, I had all my limbs,along with crutches to do so..To get up stairs,(14) where the trains are,I crawled up,on my hands and knees and down..I don't have enough fingers to count how many times,I fell.......Glad you are OK!!
Cheers,
Frank
morning coffee in the diner...
GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!!!
Today is Friday, August 16th, 2013!!!
WELCOME BACK JEFFREY!!!
Today's {clean} limerick:
A painter, who lived in Great Britain,
Interrupted two girls who were knittin'
He said, with a sigh,
"That park bench--well I
Just painted, right where you're sittin.'"
malapropisms {Malapropisms are twists of the language that, somehow, make sense even though they are seemingly senseless}:
"For your information, I would like to ask a question"!!
"Include me out!"
EDIT: Looks like I got tippy-top, so breakfast is on Jeffrey!!! {kidding..its on me FOR Jeffrey!!!}
Welcome home, Jeff!
So glad to see you are back.
Must be going. There is a rally in Oldenburg at 10 am I have to give a speech...
CU Folks!
Good Evening,
JEFF! Hey, glad you're out and on the mend! I know patience and you aren't exactly in the same zip code, but you're gonna have to employ it, a lot of it, while you recuperate. I sold (and delivered) canes with four feet on them, maybe something like THAT would give you the stability (much more than a regular cane) you need to stand up and raise your britches? Also, there are grab bars THAT attach by suction cup, maybe those would make trips to the throne room easier and safer?
Well (down quite a bit, toads are loving the cooler WX though), just wanted to drop by and give JEFF a welcome back pat-on-the-back. Gotta get back to w**k stuff for THAT Editor, tomorrow being Friday, she will be expecting some "content" to be delivered. Sliced Bread is doing OK with his writing, but it sounds like THAT Editor may have me tutor the lad in the ways of news photography. He was dispatched to the County Fair a few weeks back, which is a goldmine for easy pics. He brought back five shots, total...THAT Editor found one THAT was run-able. I told her he oughta just do what I did when I started out (late 80s/early 90s): I looked at every newspaper/news magazine I could get my hands on, then went out and did it. I also hung around the shooters for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, watched what they did and how they did it, and when time on a breaking news scene allowed, asked a quick question or two. THAT Editor said THAT way of learning won't w**k for everybody, and I'll likely have to hold Sliced Bread's hand for awhile. I told her I don't like holding hands...they get all sweaty, and I don't hold hands with other men... She frowned.
I did some "basic photography 101" teaching when I sold cameras, and having taught EMS classes, I'm used to teaching technical skills (even was a clinical preceptor a time or two), but I'm really not sure how to "teach" the kid how to take a good photo. I can go over the "rule of thirds," composition, etc....all things I'm sure the UofI urinalism, I mean, journalism program taught him in the basic photography class. THAT means, in my mind at least, since he's had the basics, it might be he just doesn't have an "eye" for it...or just needs more practice to develop it. We shall see what we see when we see it, I 'spose.
I'm tempted to see if THAT Editor will issue him a simple point-and-shoot until he gets better at framing, composing, etc. his photos, and then graduate him to the Nikon SLR's.
On THAT happy note, it's back to the sports desk I go, gotta write about a new high screwl football coach at my beloved Clear Creek Amana. Seems like a good guy, far more personable than his predecessor.
Take care everybody, thoughts and prayers continue for all in need, whatever THAT need may be.
Chris (in Iowa) Illinois Central track chart for Cedar Rapids
Illinois Central track chart for Cedar Rapids
Good Evening, and it's great to see who's back from the hospital!!
W E L C O M E B A C K ! ! !
Though, I'm sure that for the sake of the nurses at the hospital, it's good that Jeffrey headed for home. (You did you behave yourself in the hospital, right? Even when the nurses came into your room in the middle of the night, and asked you if you were awake? That's what I heard ranks as most people's least favorite part of being in the hospital...)
Your description of your "homecoming" at your father's was - almost classic for you, Jeff - and, you handled it very well (as usual). Hopefully, things will be a bit less... exciting for you for quite a while.
Just glad to see you back home so soon, (and have your father check over those loose stones - you do not need any further mishaps).
Blessings,
Jeff, man its great to have you back. We know you'll perservere and do well. Prayers do work.
Respectfully,
Phil
Evenin' folks,
Well janie, I could use a cup of..... Jeffrey! No, no, not a cup of Jeffrey I need a cup of decaf... I just saw Jeffrey was back!
Good to see you guy! Sounds like you have already had a couple interesting obsticles to overcome... I know you'll get the routines sorted out soon. Glad you are home, at least to your father's home anyway.
I watched my Granddaughters for a couple hours today. Most of the time we were out in the back yard. The oldest was being a pill to her sister and I think is ready for school to start again. This year they will both be in school. The oldest will be a first grader and the little one in Pre-K. We finally got out the electric toy tractor and the electric toy Jeep and the chased each other around the huge yard for a while until #1 got upset that #2 was following her around....
Blackie gets to go to the Vet first thing tomorrow morning. I got the carrier out and they both disappeared for about an hour..... Having it out now will make it easier in the morning to be able to catch Blackie for the ordeal.
I checked out the slide show on my projector and screen and all is well so that is listed as done! Still have one more name tag to print and laminate, but that will wait until Monday just in case any other late registrations come in. Tuesday they get handed over to the folks doing registration for the events. That leaves only the arranging of the music selections left for me to get done.... Whew! I think I will be ready by next Friday.
Best wishes to all of you, and especially for Jeffery's continued healing!
Jeffrey,
A good strong sense of humor like yours will enable you to overcome many obstacles. Glad to see you back in the forums.
Wilton.