Sir Madog Friday, January 30th, 2015 Good Morning! I woke up way too early again - 5 hours of sleep is not enough for a big fella like I am! Chloe, coffee in an IV bag, please! I am worried about Galaxy not showing up for a few days now. He seems to be in quite a difficult time at the moment. I hope is doing OK.
Good Morning!
I woke up way too early again - 5 hours of sleep is not enough for a big fella like I am!
Chloe, coffee in an IV bag, please!
I am worried about Galaxy not showing up for a few days now. He seems to be in quite a difficult time at the moment. I hope is doing OK.
Ulrich .... Perhaps you need less coffee not more. ... I was about to ask about Galaxy, but you beat me. ... He voluteered to open the February thread honoring Jeffrey. Ulrich, you may have to do it for him if he is not able to post. Hopefully, he is only having techical problems with computer or internet.
I was experimenting with making movies with my digital camera of trains on the layout. The movies did not turn out well and I deleted them. I'll try again soon.
Rob .... I never saw a real Beyer Garrett lcomotive. I bet the model is impressive.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evening Railfans! (morning for you folks living in real time). Flo a half glass por favor, just passing through on my way to la la land.
Ken - Replied to your PM. Sorry, not off today. Do email me. We can catch up there until our days off match.
RR Front - Just playin in the paperwork. Some do, some dont. I find it an enjoyable aspect when you dont have an operating layout. Also reminds me of just how bad my eyes are getting!
In General - Alls quiet on the home front. CLANG CLANG "4am and allllls welllllll !! " Goodnyt everyone.
Douglas
Bear - that NZ Beyer-Garrat sure has a brutish look! I like Beyer-Garratts, even the diminutive ones from South Africa, now operating on the Welsh Highland Rlwy. in Wales.
It´s been snowing lightly last night and all the roads are iced up. I won´t be going anywhere today. We will have to live of what the fridge, the freezer and the kitchen cupboard has to offer. Unfortunately, our storage facilities for supplies are limited, so we cannot really stock up for bad days. What we have will take us until Monday.
Have a good day!
Evenin' folks!
Janie, just a decaf please....
Well.... Another day I didn't get anywhere near the layout! Spent most of the day just sitting here at the computer trying to answer a miriad of emails and get some documents done for the Convention coming up. Now I'm waiting on some info from the people who did last years convention. Hope they have what I need.
Tonight I was at the Troop Meeting. All went well and hopefully we have turned the corner getting the Troop Leaders Council (the Scouts themseves) going on running the troop the way it should be run. Had a long talk between two of the leaders and both Comissioners after the meeting about a problem person in the unit (a mommy) who is trying to divide and conquer so to speak. She has been doing end runs to get some things for her kid that may not be according to policy... Don't want to say more except when an email crossed my desk about something I replied and copied the District people who make some final decisions... She has been running to some of them and lying about some things... Now they can read what she said to the comissioners and they can compare notes.... The Scoutmaster was quite pleased with the comissioners work on this issue. I don't think Mommy is going to win this one (and she better not!).
Mr. Beasley, heck you could have stayed until Spring.... Maybe just gone Snow Camping out in the wilderness for a few days. You know camping in a Snow Cave can be quite comfortable if you know what you are doing.
Hope everyone has a great night. Prayers for all in need!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
last mountain & eastern hogger.....ordered from Bear's country of Aussie land.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Evening Dinners
Flo a JSTL and a beer please. I see the Buick showed up, did he pay my tab? Give the Buick guy a if he showes up tonight.
Rob all of my BLI steamers are just Pargon, not the current Pargon II's. My Hudson has been the best of all BLI's. As a whole, I love and hate BLI engines. The Hudson is the only one that has not been sent back for repairs, or I have repair my self. Only reason I would still buy from BLI is because at the time there repair center was staffed by top notch people. I have no reason to think it is not at this time, just have not talked with anyone there in the last 3 years.
Train Front RIP track is getting a little thinned out! PK2 E-6 will be clear for duty as soon as it is speed matched to the PA's. Will all so have a file with it speed matched to my PK2 E-7 with sound.
Only one complete Old Dutch Hopper to get on the rails. Hope to have it ready tonight.
Have around 4 more current projects before I go to old projects.
Todd I was wondering where you have been! Great to hear Brenda lived on the way up. Did she enjoy the trip home any more than the way up north?
Douglas I did send you a PM.
I as well have been wondering where Galaxy is?
Trains are running well, so I know they are up to something!
Latter, Ken
I hate Rust
Home again. I've been in the wilds of Maine skiing. Fortunately, I drove up there Sunday afternoon, before the weather became a problem here in the Northeast. Instead, I bundled up and spent 3 rather cold and windy days before today, which was calm and relatively warm, with temperatures in the mid-20s. (F) With all that snow, it was a very pleasant trip. I was supposed to stay until Friday, but the weather looks like yet another storm and I decided to come home Thursday after skiing to avoid any trouble on the roads.
There are few trains up there now. There used to be a ski train, which would have been an ideal option, but sadly it is no longer running.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
G'd Evening Gang,
I just stopped in to tell you that I finally bit the bullet, it seems I have been putting it off for one reason or another (all valid), but this afternoon I finally poured the first coat in the feather river. YES, it finally has some water, and if I do say so myself for the basic pour it looks very good. The second will make it better and then the water effects will really make it pop.
BTW, I used Envirotex light.
That's all for now, I have to go and feed the dog and myself as the Good Woman is out and about with her Sisters today. Girls afternoon out don't cha know.. It is good for all of them.
Talk at ya all later.
Johnboy out...........................for now.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Burlington's Denver Zephyr was considered the flagship of the railroad. It was a very popular train for many years. It was a daily overnight train between Chicago and Denver. Its schedule for the 1,000 mile trip was 14 hours, and that included several stops at stations along the way. E-units were the normal power. Below is an 18-car DZ with 4 E-units in the summer in the 1950's.
The Burlington Northern merger was March 2, 1970. BN continued operating the DZ until Amtrak was created on May 1, 1971. Winters could be very challenging to the DZ because heavy snow with drifting could affect tracks on the DZ's route. CB&Q had a large rotary snow plow stationed in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it had smaller plows located along the route. A major blizzard in 1971 was one of the greatest challenges to operations of the Denver Zephyr. An SD7 and a GP9 were added to the normal E-units to help the train power its way through the heavy snow. Even with plows working ahead of the train, it was 12 hours late stopping in Lincoln. The schedule was to arrive in Lincoln at midnight CST, 7 hours after departing from Denver. The train arrived in Lincoln at noon. Crews at the station thawed out the steam pipes for heating the train before it continued its eastbound trip. It took another 12 hours to get to Chicago. The schedule 14-hour trip from Denver to Chicago took 29 hours. Below is a photo of the train in Lincoln.
When the railroad companies operated trains before Amtrak, they did all they could to operate regardless of weather. Today's Amtrak wimps out for bad weather and cancels trains.
Uncle_Bob Wow! You were very fortunate, Garry! I'm surprised the car didn't completely collapse, given that it's structural integrity was that compromised. Did they ever figure out what happened to cause that problem?
Wow! You were very fortunate, Garry! I'm surprised the car didn't completely collapse, given that it's structural integrity was that compromised. Did they ever figure out what happened to cause that problem?
If I recall correctly, a check valve failed. It was summer, and Fairbanks had tempatures of about 70 degrees. Traveling overnight through monutains, the train went through freezing weather. The valve should have compensated for contraction in cold tempatures, but failed to do that.
Well, bedtime is coming up!
2015 has not been a good year at this end, either. We just learned, that Petra´s aunt is hospitalized. The outlook is not good. The good lady has MS in its terminal stage...
I will reduce the plan even further, taking two switches out. The track plan of the station will than match the prototype, so I can re-enact prototype train movements!
angelob6660 - less can be more, but to few ain´t no good either! It´s a question of blancing the must-have´s and nice to have´s.
CU tomorrow!
Those are pretty good photos Garry!
Ulrich I have the same problem when designing a layout. For me I don't know if less is more.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I'm sorry to hear about your family's health issues, Johnboy. My thoughts are with you.
Good afternoon.
Regarding the trip to Fairbanks on ARR. The trip was over 20 years ago. .... Unfortuately, the trip was on a day with very heavy rain. None of the photos was very good, and I no longer have most of them. Here are some of what I still have.
Below is a photo of the train as we were near Fairbanks.
Very heavy rain as we passed the Fairbanks sign.
Here is a train arriving in Anchorage on another day with clear sky.
I returned to Anchorage on the tank train which hauls petroeum products overnight from a refinery in Fairbanks. One of the tank cars imploded while enroute. Remarkably, the car did not cause a derailment or result in malfunctioning brakes. The car was about 1/3 back in the train, and we could not know that in the locomotive. The guy in the yard tower radioed he saw it as the train arrived in Anchorage. It could have been a catastrophe, and I'm glad it was not.
Below is a photo of the imploded tank car on a side track in Anchorage after its load had been rmeoved.
Mornin' everyone! (Well, it was morning when I started typing.....)
Zoe I'll have the #2 Special this morning. Over easy eggs, Bacon, Home Fries, and a double order of that wonderful Sour Dough Taost you have. A large pot of Seneca Lake Blend Dark Roast would be good as well (20 cup ought to keep me awake for a while).
JohnBoy, Thanks! the fence was hand made from, uh, "tree" trunks.... Yep! Actually they were the leftover ends of branches from the "Trees" I make for the layout. Split just like the prototype using very tiny axes and wedges... (I used a #11 exacto...) The "tree trunks" on the layout are from trimmings of trees on my property. Mostly a crab apple tree next to the side driveway. Will keep your whole family in my prayers. Shore do have a bunch of stuff happening at the same time around your place!
Speaking of "Stuff".... What happened to Galaxy? He hasn't been in since Sunday?
I have a bunch of deadlines to meet today, so I best get at it. Already have hand shovelled a path from the road to my back portch so the trash and recycling can be put out tonight. Have to go to staples for a couple things and use a $20 coupon I need to use by Saturday. Also need to finish copying/photographing the MLK Art and Poetry winners to get back to schools, and be ready to be at an important Troop Meeting tonight. Some "Stuff" going on with a mommy there again. I will be one of the mediators (as Commisioner) and may have to lower the boom with an ultimatom for her to change her attitude or else. Some higher ups in the council are now involved with the problem and will have the final say for her "problem" soon.
Later!
Italian roast coffee in a SOYLENT GREEN CORP mug, please.
***Johnboy, I was busy trying to get farm projects done. But with health issues, there is only so much I can realistically do, so sometimes I need to return to my favorite hobby to cheer me up.
***Ulrich, the layout looks great to me. Plenty you can do with it, too.
No pics of the new loco yet. Need to clean the work desk and that won't happen until I am done cleaning up the sunporch and getting some more firewood split.
Better get busy. Have a great day all.
Cheers! Rob
Me again!
I was able to finish the drawing of that layout alternative I was talking about yesterday. The layout is based on the station of Bregenz Harbor, with only very little modler´s license applied. Bregenz is a town in Austria, situated at Lake Constance, quite close to Germany and Switzerland. This would allow me to run Austrian, German and Swiss trains on the layout. It is a lot smaller and much more simple to build, but certainly not as spectacular in terms of scenery. It has a waterfront feature, which is always a must on my layouts! It´ll be made of 5 segments, each small enough to be handled on the kitchen table - well, sort of. Construction of the benchwork is really easy - aside from the corner segments, it could be made out of boxes available as kits in our arts & crafts store.
Although this layout is much simpler in all aspects, I somehow feel more comfortable with it.
I´ll give it a few days before I will decide which way to go!
Good morning Diners,
Flo, I'll have hash browns, scrambled eggs, and my usual giant cup of coffee with beucoups cream, please.
Ulrich: Far be it from me to deny a post to the diner. Whether anyone wants to read it or not is another story. :)
When you posted that picture of the Rhine, you had mentioned about the curves on the ends. It reminded me of a picture in the old Bill McLenahan (sp) book on scenery. It showed an end curve with a very short tunnel (5-6cm) through a rock outcropping and looked perfectly plausible that the engineering crew would bore through the rock rather than make a cut. I know that in some places on the Rhine the rocks go straight into the water and it would appear logical to make a short tunnel than a cut. It would make a natural scene divider and the river could be wrapped around the curve befor it veers off and the train goes into another tunnel to staging. Anyway, just a thought.
i agree that if I have the stream divider on the N scale layout there is no room for a tunnel. The stream would be more logical for the locale.
Well, hope everyone is ok and in good health.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
G'd Morning Gang, (of one >> Ulrich, it seems you are the only one here)
Chloe, when time permits, I'll have a cinnamon bagel with peanut butter, two scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon and a H.C. to chase, Thanks much
I've had a real tough week here after my procedure in the North to get my throat open. Lots of swelling and discomfort, and to this point no swallowing. I have massive amount of phlem and it is difficult to even try and swallow over top of that. Enough of me.............
Ray, I was admiring that split rail fence in the background of that last photo, That is really neat. I ran across numerous fences like that when I crossed Manitoulin Island at the top of Lake Huron. It seems they were most popular in that area.
Still haven't poured the river yet, but have added alot of detail around it. A pasture and some cattle, the deadfall and some rocks/boulders a grove of pine trees between a tunnel portal and the river. Have been playing around with some telephone poles ( not quite sure about them yet,) Have not finished ballasting the track leading up to a bridge crossing as I know I should remove the bridge before I pour the envirotex. So even when you think you are ready there seems to be a multitude of things to do before it happens. Oh and BTW, I dug into my collection of kits yesterday and built a 40 ft. N.P. boxcar. I still enjoy doing that. Glad I stocked up on them years ago.
ROB, I too am waiting for pictures of that new Loco. It must really be something. Did you say it was ordered from Bear's country of Aussie land. I am glad to hear that the smell of smoke cinders and soot has bitten you again and got those creative juices flowing. You took a long hiatis, it seems.
Where has this month gone. It is really hard to believe the Diner was renamed a month ago and Jeff has been gone that long already.
So far 2015 hasn't been much better than other years. I have lost a BIL at 56 years old, our Best Man, and several friends, then on top of that, my Wife needs a root canal, oldest Son has been refered to Edmonton for headaches that he can't seem to get rid of, third Son woke up a week ago with Bell's Palsey on the right side of his face, and forth Son has a blocked saliva gland, I do ask your prayers and blessings for all of them. I kind of feel like JOB, right now.
Well, I had better get my breakfast in via the tube so I can get the rest of my day started.
Galaxy, I sure hope all goes well for you and your better half in all areas. I know it must be a real load on your mind. Get the surgery out of the way and then concentrate on making the rest right. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all others who stand in need these days.
Garry, I too envey you, what a great way to see Alaska.. I love it up there, but it has been a long time. 1973 was the last time I was there, so I should do it again before I pass over the hill.
Keep smiling ya' all.
Johnboy out...............................for now
Close to 10 hours since my last post and nobody has yet shown up!
Janie, coffee and a handful of those oatmeal cookies, please!
It´s not yet 5am and I am up for 2 hours already. Tried to get some more sleep, but without luck.
What is it that keeps me from starting the layout? I wish I knew. I´ve got nearly all the track I need for it and there are only very few areas I don´t know how to do it yet. Still I´ve got that inner voice not to do it. I have always been a man of reason, not the stomach, but I think it´ll be wise to listen to my stomach this time.
I will spend some more time detailing that alternative layout idea I have come across. Maybe that´s a way to get rid of that grumbling feeling in the middle of my body.
Rob - how´s the Beyer-Garratt. I sure would like to see a pic (or two) of it!
Terry - as much as I want to do some MRRing, I won´t be rushing into it. After my rather epic failure with my On30 layout last year, I can´t afford another mistake. I remember the motto I selected for my high school annual (class of `74) "Be always sure you´re right, then go ahead" (Davy Crockett).
Flo, strong darl roast coffee in an IV bag please, I can hardly keep my eyes open!
CUL, Folks!
Mint tea, please.
***Garry, locomotive cab of the ARR passenger train into Fairbanks, you lucky dog!
***Uncle Bob, good to hear the surgery went well. Heal up well.
***Terry, nice looking layout.
No train stuff yet. Worked on clearing/cleaning part of the sun porch today, to put up the final firewood rack. Need to do some wood splitting soon.
Cheers, Rob
Flo, I'd like a 1/2 pound burger, medium, with all the fixins, onion rings, and a glass of sweet tea, please.
Mrs. Bob drove us back from the Packer. We just go in about 30 minutes ago. I heard a few trains today and saw a green signal for one headed from the yard on the connector to the Southern Tier in Waverly, but find' t actually see ant trains.
The surgery went fine. (They even gave me pictures!) No showers till Fri night/Sat morning, keep my left leg elevated and iced, and basically just rest. Hopefully, the cats will allow me to rest!
Howmus, it sounds like you had a rewarding career.
Time for a nap!
Good Wednesday afternoon, Diners!
28f and clouds. it's been windy today, the " feels like " temp is 19f.
Ulrich, it seems like you should just start building something. Take the first step and the rest will be easier?
I am ballasting the last about 24' of mainline. Then I still have 10-12' of sidings and spurs then that's IT!!!!! I hate ballasting. Hope to finish by Friday. Have people coming on Saturday to give the layout a good shakedown ops session. We have a real ops session planned for mid February. Hopefully all goes well. I'll get some pics.
Nice to see some of the MIA's in,like Rob, Todd and Douglas.
That's about it for now.
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Hello Railfans! Top of the day to ya! Flo - my usual please, and hand me that Mopar guys tab.
Cederstrand - "Undecorated" mug.... . Never heard that before.
UP831 - I dare say its a rather expensive and rare vintage. I doubt Mel has a clue where to find such a culinary treasure. Just remember to sleep with your silver spurs under your pillow! Probably just went up in price now that Roussos has passed.
Maddog - Whats got ya stymied? About your layout, that is. As for the rain, Id trade you this beach weather for it any day if you can find a way to make that happen.
Garry - Concerning your first way into Fairbanks..... man do you know how to enter a room! Best of all ways i can think to go anywhere.... in the cab of a locomotive!
RR Front - Again, not been doing much. Though the day is young.
In General - Another glorius sunglasses required day. Oh yay.
Spose I will check in later.
Good Evening!
A rather uneventful day today. It´s been ra*ning all day long and, as it will be turning much colder the next days, we expect to see our little world to be covered by a white blanket tomorrow morning.
I am still having second and maybe even third thoughts about that layout plan of mine. Something in my stomach tells me, not to go forward with it. I don´t really know what it is, but I somehow have the feeling that the chunk is too big for me to swallow. On a scale/size ratio, this would be the largest layout I ever build, could be the reason for me to chicken out of it. Even if built in two sections, it´s quite chunky.
I started working on an alternative idea, which is a tad simpler, easier to construct and a little more flexible. This will come in handy, should we move into new premises. I guess I´ll be able to present the idea tomorrow.
I saw pictures of the blizzard in the NE - my gosh, 37 years ago we had less than half of that and it was horrible!
Have a good one!
Todd ... Good to see you. That would be a very long car ride. My Main Squeeze doesn't like long car rides, and I doubt she would have tried that. ... I recall my first trip into Fairbanks was in a locomotive cab of the ARR passenger train. It was the summer, too. .... A January day in Fairbanks would have hardly any daylight.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a bowl of Pumpkin Seed Flax Granola with skim milk and a piot of dark roast coffee to start the day.
Currently 7°F under bright sunny skies today here in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS. The high will get up to 25°F sometime this afternoon. I'm sitting here watching the sn*w melt off the road in front of my house....
Uncle_Bob, I taught Elementary Vocal/General Music (k - 6) in Waverly from the fall of '68 to the spring of '79. Then moved to Elba, NY and taught music (k - 12) for two years. My wife hated it there so I looked around and ended up finishing my career here in Geneva mostly teaching Vocal/General music in Middle School... At some point over the 32 years I taught I have done everything from kindergarten to college level courses.
Good to see you Todd! That was quite a road trip Brenda made.... I might like to try that sometime. Sometime in the summer that is!
Today is my day to feed Claude, so I will be heading out to Canandaigua early this afternoon. Have a Scout District Committee meeting tonight.
Best get myself moving....
Italian roast coffee in a Undecorated mug, please.
***Todd, that's a heck of a drive Brenda made. And making it with anyone who whines would make it seem 10 times as long. Why not focus on and enjoy the beautiful scenery?
Think I'll set up a test track for some of my N-scale locos and get them ready to sell on the-Bay. Whatever I get for them will go right back into the "train fund" for HO stuff.
Have a terrific day all. Healing thoughts for those in need and recovering.
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.