Stopping by the diner before boarding. Just about to board the flight back to DC from Vienna. It was a short but enjoyable stay in this beautiful city. I just hope that my next return to Austria will be for pleasure instead of business. A trip to Austria is highly recommended to all my friends in the diner. Will stop by when I am over the pond again.
All the best.
Joe F
cudakenUlrich I need to do more bench work design then have you do a track plan for me if you would. I have one idea that will let me fit a good sizes layout in the garage with my 68 Road Runner. But, I want to try some other ideas first before I post it.
I sure will, Ken!
Good Morning!
This Summer ain´t no Summer, no Sir! It´s wet. just wet! I hope Sunday 10th will be nice or at least dry. There is a steam train passing through our station and I´d like to go see it!
Shortly after WW II, "experts" estimated that it would take a minimum of 20 years just to remove the rubble and in total 60 years to rebuild the cities. How wrong they were! The rubble was gone no later than 1950 and the reconstruction was finished in the early 1960s, though I still remember using empty lots as a playground. With the exception of the major cities, i.e. Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg and some others, the East of Germany saw less destruction than the West, but 40 years of communism did as much damage as the allied bombing, albeit killing less people.
It was mainly my grandparents´ and parents´ generation who did all the work, but leaving German cities with the rather uninspiring, uniform look of simplified Bauhaus architecture. It was my generation who started out to make the cities look nice and colorful again, but the old charme is gone forever. Although much of the old part of Dresden has been reconstructed following the "tumbling of the Berlin Wall", the city has not (yet) found its way back to the former pace of life. It´s been degraded to a Disney-like tourist attraction - a big
Cudaken- Nice ride! I have a 91 Formula that I have rebuilt the firewall on and now moving onto floor pan replacement. Once that is done I can go on completing the LS1 swap awaiting it in the garage as well. Have a 91 GTA to go along with it. The Queen of the fleet though is my 1989 Turbo Trans AM.
I think the boy and I had our first flawless session at the club today. He wanted to use his engine, so we had a Proto U28B pulling three 50ft plug door Scaletrains cars as our stand in express cars, with a 9 car passenger consist behind those mostly a mix of older and newer Walthers streamlined cars. No tracking issues, coupler issues, programming issues, made it a lot less annoying than it can get sometimes. Makes me happy when I spend time checking couplers, adding resistors for signals and checking wheel gauge.
P&Slocal Sweet! I can physically stop at there every day this month! :) It is a shame how run down the NP Station has become. While Miles City may be a small town, it was a hub of railroading activity. Both the Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee Road ran through Miles City. The Milwaukee had shops, a turn table and roundhouse here. Many of those buildings are still in use by a company called Transco, a railcar rebuilding company. If you are in Miles City to watch trains, just don't blink, as the BNSF rolls through here at 60 mph!
Sweet! I can physically stop at there every day this month! :) It is a shame how run down the NP Station has become.
While Miles City may be a small town, it was a hub of railroading activity. Both the Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee Road ran through Miles City. The Milwaukee had shops, a turn table and roundhouse here. Many of those buildings are still in use by a company called Transco, a railcar rebuilding company.
If you are in Miles City to watch trains, just don't blink, as the BNSF rolls through here at 60 mph!
Talking about the Milwaukee yards don't forget about the transfer table as well between the two main shop buildings. (edit: I forgot to mention I got to see the table operate once many years ago back when I was in grade school.)
As an aside, the whole yard area is a SuperFund site. The Milwaukee wasn't exactly the cleanliest when it came to fuel. I don't know if this is true or not but there was an old story that at one point many years ago someone bought a house in that area and had a well dug down to the aquifer to tap the oil that was sitting on top of it for heating.
As for the speed: I have noticed it somewhat depends on the particular train. Some of them seem to be going slower than 60 mph. Coal trains probably not.
yougottawantaMoneyBucket - What happened to the mining buisness ? Dig out all of the ore ? Is the AMRA part of the NMRA ? LOL Motion Actuaters ! Love it keep em coming !
Gday all...any hot apple pie on the menu...Sounds good could I'll get some fresh whipped cream whith that?
yougottawanta ...The iron ore mining industry is overun by a pile of players trying to make a buck...There is so much ore being pulled out of the earth that supply and demand has kicked in and China(the major consumer of ore)has too much and no longer needs as much... this trickles down the line and ore prices have now hit an all time low...major companies arn't making money any more so all the proposed projects have been shelved leaving thousand out of work... Thats business...
As for the AMRA being part of NMRA? I'm not sure but I am taking the young fella down there today so I will ask around. I think there is a NMRA special interest group withing the club though.
Sir madog... those pics are amazing...my father was born in Berlin after the war...his family were Ukraine farmers that moved to Australia as refugeees. He spent his youth growing up in a Queensland refugee camp. I would expect when his family left Europe the suroundings would have been a little like what your pics portray.
Howmus... I wouldn't touch the poison Ivy either...
And Happy 4th July weekend to all that are on that part of the world.
Ooroo...
Cheers...
Chris from down under...
We're all here because we're not all there...
cats think well of me Hi all, Wishing everyone a good upcoming weekend. Going to try again with painting my steam engine tomorrow. I put the primer coat on this morning. Going to put on the final coats tomorrow. I used acetone to clean the airbrush. Wow! Great idea, I don't think the airbrush has been this clean for sometime. I'll not use the acetone for thinning the paint, as Tru-Color doesn't recommend it, but it's great for cleaning the airbrush after a paint job. I've been riding my bike more and more. I'd like to bike to work on days the weather is nice. -Alvie
Hi all,
Wishing everyone a good upcoming weekend.
Going to try again with painting my steam engine tomorrow. I put the primer coat on this morning. Going to put on the final coats tomorrow.
I used acetone to clean the airbrush. Wow! Great idea, I don't think the airbrush has been this clean for sometime. I'll not use the acetone for thinning the paint, as Tru-Color doesn't recommend it, but it's great for cleaning the airbrush after a paint job.
I've been riding my bike more and more. I'd like to bike to work on days the weather is nice.
-Alvie
I had a good time last Friday in Syracuse. Traffic seemed down from past years, though, and there was grass or weeds growing between the rails. On the mainline of CSX's Chicago Line. Never thought I'd see that!
A GP40-2/slug/GP40-2 set popped up in the early evening, but my vantage point was mediocre at best. There was also a pair of SD40-2's on a freight, one a rebuild from an SD40. I think the only foreign road power was some BNSF GE's on a westbound that snuck past behind another train.
I'd post pics, but there was, uh, an incident last week where I got an e-mail from a friend, or so I thought. I opened it and got a message saying the computer now has a virus. I couldn't do anything, so I hit the power switch. Using the dreaded Kindle to go online, I learned that someone hacked my e-mail account, so I changed passwords. The hacker supposedly logged into my account from Looozianna, which is another good reason for me to dislike LSU. (Guilt by association -- good enough reason for a Jaw-juh fan to take umbrage!) Hopefully this can get fixed because my wife has a lot of pictures on it, including pics of her former house, her cats (including the one who died last year), and our wedding.
Evening Dinners
Flo, Please
V8VegaI have to keep my friend Bill happy and we probably won’t go again for awhile as he has to take care of his girlfriend and neighbor as she is getting a hip replacement.
Dennis Something just does not sound right in the above quote! Girlfreind and hip replacement should not be in the same sentence. Getting old is not for the faint of heart, that is for sure!
Work Front Well the good news I get to work 6 days this week, I need the Over Time big time. Fence bill is pilling up. On the 4th Of July I get to work with the Co-owner Nancy. While she is a ding bat I rather work with her than Jerry.
Yard Wars I got some of the old fence down before I went to work. I did enjoy cutting up the old gate! It was a ture wreck and I had rigged it many time's over the years. Took me longer than it should. I was trying to save some of the better wood that I patched it with by taking out the screws. Darn Srew Bit for my drill broke? Could not find any that would fit in the screw bit holder so I broke out the Death Saw! It cut up the gate in short order!
Cut out 20 feet of fence and the 4 foot gate in about a hour. Spent 15 minutes looking for a new screw bit and 5 minutes re-installing a new Death Saw Blade. Seems I did not have it in just right and it fell out after 10 minutes of use. Only 48 more feet to go!
Ulrich I need to do more bench work design then have you do a track plan for me if you would. I have one idea that will let me fit a good sizes layout in the garage with my 68 Road Runner. But, I want to try some other ideas first before I post it.
Dave Glad you like my car photos. With any luck and being done with Yard Wars I will get my 68 Road Runner back home.
Later Ken
I hate Rust
Evenin' folks!
Janie, I see the place has been all scrubbed up and clean after the move. Where the heck is this place???? Oh, OK, I'll Google it and see what I find out.... A cup of decaf would do me very nicely right now. Oh and an advil as well please.
Spent most of the week out at Boy Scout Camp trimming the grass and weeds (and leaving the poison ivy for the camp Ranger to hit with weed killer tomorrow) around tents. I sure have a bunch of muscles that I have forgotten about. An old friend in Scouting who used to be Properties Chairman for many years was also out there trimming in other areas of camp. The first time I came out with my little battery powered Black and Decker trimmer (about a decade or so ago), he started to laugh and asked what I expected to do with that? I just replied we shall see what we shall see. Turns out the smaller and lighter electric while not having the power of the big Gas ones, is much easier to handle in and around the tents. No way I could handle the big heavy ones today and keep at the job for 4 or 5 hours. Well, Guess what that guy is using out at camp now???? Yep he decided he liked the little light electric ones and got himself one of the new models with li-ion batteries. He told me he was amazed at how much they can do and how much easier they are to handle in many situations....
Good to see a bunch of new faces in here.....
I need to give my sister (in Canandaigua) a call. Her lawn mower is fixed. May not be able to pick it up for her tomorrow as I will be attending the Memorial Service of the Mother of a dear friend who passed away last Monday at the age of 90.
Oh! Hope you folks North of the Broder had a great Canada Day today!
Catch you all later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
To all our friends in the United States, have a fun (but safe) July 4 weekend!
To everyone else, have a fun (but safe) July 2-3 weekend!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Ulrich
You know that is so true. I look at what it takes to do stuff now and then I think Man! My I cannot figure out how my ancestors did what they did ! Geezzz They do not have the techonogy, the equipment, the computers etc...I am in awe of my parents and their parent the things they went through and overcame. Amazing
YGW
yougottawanta. . .Does your bike have a rear fender ? Doesnt that drive you crazy with water streaming up your backside. I assume it doesnt have a fender ?. . .
(I am guessing you meant Richard, not Dave.) Nope, no fender on the back. That's just unnecessary weight, especially in the state of Arid-Zona.
Richard
Afternoon Diners,
It's raining hard. Soaked up dirt ready for fireworks on the 4th. Don't what another fire related incident that happened 5-6 years ago.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Well here in the state of corrupt government it is supposed to be in the high 70s this weekend and clear. So good grilling weather! Happy July 4th to my fellow countrymen.
Mike
yougottawantaThe new station doesnt hold a candle to the old style !
Well, the old building looked like this in 1945:
That station is right in the center of Cologne and right next to the Cologne Cathedral. Gives you an impression of what all of the city looked like.
This is today:
It´s incredible what my parents´ and my generation achieved, isn´t it?
Oh, btw, I grew up in Cologne, not in Hamburg.
Dave - Does your bike have a rear fender ? Doesnt that drive you crazy with water streaming up your backside. I assume it doesnt have a fender ?
Garry - Glad you popped in. Hope your traveling is safe and easy
Ulrich - Austrians sound like their descendants may have moved to Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi ! They are R----E-----A----L S---L---O---W there too ! I would like to visit the garden resturants they look wonderful, The new station doesnt hold a candle to the old style !
JaBear - Oh that is what a subby is. I deal with a lot of subbies. Hmmm I live "beyond the black stump" too. Oh no Please dont put Worcestershire sauce on scrapple ! Unless you must ! Many people dont know how to cook it. It has to be sliced fairly thin, cooked on one side until the side up starts to brown around the edges and then flip it until it is crispy all the way thru but not burnt. Despite its ingrediants it is rather tasty.
MoneyBucket - What happened to the mining buisness ? Dig out all of the ore ? Is the AMRA part of the NMRA ? LOL Motion Actuaters ! Love it keep em coming !
Frry Kid - Thanks for moving the diner and Flo I will take a raspeberry ice tea, THANKS FRRYkid !!! Oh boy !!
Johnboy - Always delighted to see you in here !!! How are you ?
Ken, Howmus, Galaxy ( where ever you are ) Cats think well of me, P&SLOCAL,Mr.B, Lion ( havent seen you in a bit ? ) jk10, Howdy hope your day is going well.
Canadian friends - Hope your celebration for your great day is fantastic !
As MoneyBucket said so well - Oooroo
Robert H. Shilling II
Heartland Division CB&Q FRRYKID .. I see Miles City in southeastern Montana .
FRRYKID .. I see Miles City in southeastern Montana .
Yup, we are one of those towns that unless you're looking for it, you probably won't find it.
JaBear: Thank you for the banana shake
Richard - thank goodness no news on the critter front! Petra would die if we had those varmints here!
With nothing better to do I fired up SCARM again and drew a train for my layout:
Here is a close-up shot of my "new train":
It´s a typical 1900s German branchline train.
On the scorpion front, nothing, nada. This is a good thing.
On the bike front, I ended up riding in the rain today. It wasn't raining when I left and the weather said "cloudy." I had made the turn, and was headed home with about seven miles to go when it started. It was not enough to have gushing gutters, but it was enough to fill my shoes. I don't mind riding in the rain so much, it is the clean up afterwards that drives me a little crazy. The bike kicks up the water from the road, which is anything but clean. When I get home I have to wipe down the bike and scrub my clothes. But hey, I burned a little over 800 calories--that's a good thing.
Howdy. I'm still posting with iPhone. Still traveling.
Canadians: Happy Canada Day. I will celebrate with Tim Hortons coffee and a donut .
Have a nice day everybody
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Reinhard - take streetcar line #38 to Grinzing. The ride takes about 20 - 25 minutes. Grinzing is the place to go if you want to have a nice Wienerschnitzel and a glass of Grüner Veltliner in a typical Viennese garden restaurant called "Heurigen"
Your local staff should know the best address for it!
A brief stop while still in Vienna.
Ulrich - working with both Germans and Austrians on a daily basis back in DC I agree with you that the Austrians are more relaxed. A German will give a lenghty description with different scenarios whereas an Austrian will say "we'll see" (schaun wer mal). Will have a Wienerschnitzel for you this evening and leave Vienna tomorrow morning with the hopes of returning sooner than the last trip. Your Maerklin Z layout is giving me inspiration to possibly set up my Z layout again.
JK10 - you have been to two countries which have been on my list to visit for a long time; Ireland and Poland. My wife and I are planning the UK for October to visit our daughter so a side trip to Ireland would be in order.
Have to run, will stop in later for a late (or early in the states) coffee.
Chessie reinhard Saying Hi from Vienna. Ulrich - I agree, Vienna is a beautiful city. It has been 9 years since my last visit and had forgotten the charm this city has. Had Wienerschnitzel last night and will have it again tonight since I depart for DC tomorrow morning. My wife always says that the most beautiful countries are Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its too bad she could not come along this time. Have to run.
Saying Hi from Vienna.
Ulrich - I agree, Vienna is a beautiful city. It has been 9 years since my last visit and had forgotten the charm this city has. Had Wienerschnitzel last night and will have it again tonight since I depart for DC tomorrow morning. My wife always says that the most beautiful countries are Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its too bad she could not come along this time.
Have to run.
Hi JaBear - thanks for the lesson in Aussie slang. Some of it sounds like a direct translation from German
Railroad Depot, Hauptbahnhof, Railway Station, call them what you may but for a supposedly utilitarian building, the architects of the time to varying degrees came up with some marvellous designs. I guess it was to showcase of the importance of rail transport back then.
Here is one of those examples why railroad station were sometimes called the cathedrals of trains:
Cologne "Hauptbahnhof" in 1910:
Sadly, the same station now looks like this, following the Allied urban renewal project in 1944:
`Nuff of that!
I spend a couple of hours finishing the track plan.
If they layout looks a little barren to you, your eyes don´t deceive you. That´s the way Marklin built their promotional display layouts and quite a number of model railroaders copied that style. It´s really a pity that only few of these layouts survived.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Afternoon critters...just dropping in for a quick frothy before I spend good money on someone to abuse my personal space and flexability while attempting to create well being in my vertibre...
Did someone ask about my lingo? Well a heads up on a few things...The mighty "stubbie" is a 375ml (12.68US fl oz)bottle of liquid gold (beer) and yes it is still common currency over here on the weekends and even during the week in some places. If your ever over ere "Ooroo" is as common as saying "see ya later" or "I'm off"...most aussies will understand it. Some of the farming critters even use it as a greating. We like to keep it simple.
As for mining...I was employed in the Iron ore industry...I was working from construction camps out in the north west of Australia building ore crushers, seperators and corse ore stockpile conveyer tunnels.
Below is a pic of one of the automated ore loaders...I've seen them run trains with up to 350 ore cars.
Mining over here is almost at a stand still so there hasn't been much work for construction crews so I dropped back into the city and manage to pick up some work on local infrastructure. My last major job included construction of 3 bridges on a local highway...Soon the northern link will be in full force and more work should come my way. At the moment I am just bouncing around between smaller civil construction mobs.
Wow... just noticed the dinner has changed...what an awesome place...bound to find some tresures hidden around in here.
A bit more info on my profile...The AMRA over here is short for Australian Model Railway Association...I am a member of the Western Australian branch if your wondering what the WA stands for.
Ah well better shoot off and get this over with...you may some screams but apparently it to maintain my spinal health. Apparently 20 years of physical abuse isn't good for ones future motions actuators. LOL
FRRYKid:
Beautiful station. Congratulations on being part of the team trying to restore it!
Just north of us in Barrie, Ontario there is a rather large beautiful old station that is being slowly restored. It is called the Allandale Station because that was the original name of the community where it was built. Allandale has now been absorbed by Barrie. The city of Barrie deserves a lot of credit because they have poured millions of $ into the project and they recently agreed to put up another $3.8 million. I'm not sure of the completion date, but they are asking for tenants to apply so the end is in sight. Make sure you click on the thumbnails on the right of the screen. The detail is incredible!
http://www.eraarch.ca/project/allandale-station/
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Austrians are much more relaxed than Germans - especially the people in Vienna. I had an office in Vienna for some years, so I spent at least 2 months a year down there. I remember once asking my Viennese sectretary to send out an urgent fax to headquarters. About half an hour later I asked whether the fax was out and her answer was, of course, no - we are not on the run, aren´t we! Things do go a lot slower there, to which I never really got completely adjusted.
Sorry, forgot to say Happy New Month to all. Lost "track" of time with this trip and can't believe the first half is gone.