Hello all
Ulrich - Very nice. You have one thing to be thankful for - your friends - you have some special friends. Thta is a nice "caboose". I am that your illness is not parkinsons.
FRRYKid - I am confused. Is the new build for the entire layout or just an engine house on the layout ?
Ken - I have done what that lady did. Not on purpose. Just really bad memory sometimes.
Henry - Speaking of 1% did you know that every American is richer than 90 +/_ % of the rest of the world ? Did you know that there are 6 people die every minute from lack of food ? What do you think they roofed the Victorian porch with ? Looks like rubber but I dont think they had that back then
V8 - We have a small drag strip where I live. It had a car leave the track a few years ago and went into the stands. A few people didnt walk away... But they added some more safety stuff and they are back up and running.
Tom - Any left overs. That is some good eating !
Rich - I agree ! Take off the plates and let the ponys run !
Der - That is an interesting way to form a tunnel !
MoeLarry - Glad you are feeling better !
Howmus - I noticed you were AWOL ! I must say, I have never ( that I remember ) seen rock formation built out of ceiling tile. Very impressive !
History qoute :
Temperate, sincere, and intelligent inquiry and discussion are only to be dreaded by the advocates of error. The truth need not fear them...
Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.
I am more and more convinced, of the propensity in human nature to tyranize over their fellow men....
My Japanese friend has just sent a message that he mailed a few "things" he built to go with that scratchbuilt tramway loco.
In a week or so, the following should be arriving at my doorstep:
1. Shed made from a "grounded" brake van (that´s a caboose in British terminology)
2. A mini gondola and third class coach:
Now I am smiling again...
Good morning everybody .
Where is Lion? A sticky bun would hit the post now.
Der John ... Your progress with your layout is very impressive. I do think it is hard for some people in this hobby to avoid violating the 10th Commandment.
Ulrich .... Best wishes and prayers for Petra as well as both of you for the overall situation you described. Your friends in the Diner care. ....... I enjoyed the Japanese vodeo. Looks like the doubleheader easily hauled the fove coaches.
Henry .... That is a great idea to have the Diner at Thomas Viaduct. It would be good to include all of Maryland because there is a lot of railroad history there. The B&O Museum is worthwhile.
MLC..... I like the Paducah idea too. The Ohio River Bridge is very impressive and the former IC locomotive shops are interesting. A lot of locomotives were rebuilt by the VMV company for many years after the IC sold the shops. I recall another locomotive rebuilder bought the shops a few years ago. .... Now locomotives are being rebuilt by a Caterpillar subsidiary (Progress Rail) in Mayfield not far from Paducah. ....
Perhaps one of the months, the Diner could tour both Kentucky and Tennessee because there is a lot of rairloading to talk about.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
hon30critterWith all that you are going through I think you are holding up pretty well!
I wish this were the case! I have pretty much reached the end of what I am able to bear.
Sir MadogMy doc has developed a new idea on this and I am going to be tested for Parkinson´s disease.
Ulrich, if that is unfortunately the case at least it will be treated in its early stages.
As for the surgeon's choice of dates for Petra's procedure, the least he could do is give her a birthday cake! Save me a piece please!
All the best Ulrich! With all that you are going through I think you are holding up pretty well!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Lunchtime!
Brunhilda, I´ll have a burger and fries, please! Add an RBF to wash it down!
hon30critterThank you for sharing that wonderful video.
My pleasure, Dave! I am always amazed about how professional this videos are made! If you care for some more, here is another one:
Enjoy!
hon30critterI hope you are feeling better soon. You deserve it!
That´s very kind of you, but I am afraid things are not improving. The tremor ha so far been either attributed to one of the minor strokes I had some time ago, or a post-traumatic effect caused by the hold-up. My doc has developed a new idea on this and I am going to be tested for Parkinson´s disease. Not a reassuring thought.
I am scared, to say the least.
Petra will see the doc about her surgery not earlier than coming Monday, which means she will be in for her surgery on her birthday.
It seems as if good old Murphy has moved in and decides to stay with us.
Sir MadogWell, here is the video:
Ulrich:
Thank you for sharing that wonderful video. I'm not exactly a steam fanatic but I do get a thrill seeing them in operation. I'm always amazed that all the side rods and moving parts don't come flying off at speed!
I hope you are feeling better soon. You deserve it!
Regards,
CederstrandDo you know what kind of bird that is on the front locomotive placard?
Rob, it´s a grey heron.
der5997 We found out from Mrs. DER’s recent surgery that she’s alergic to Morphine and Codine (and so probably most of the street drugs out there too!)
We found out from Mrs. DER’s recent surgery that she’s alergic to Morphine and Codine (and so probably most of the street drugs out there too!)
The Codine allergy is something that I have to watch for myself. I always knew that my Mom has a sensitivity to Codine. However, until last summer, I didn't know that my uncle, her brother, also has a sensitivity to Codine. Based on my what doctor has told me with that history, I probably shouldn't receive Codine myself.
Hobby Front: I still haven't managed to find my missing tube of body putty. I am about ready to order a new tube. (As much as I hate to do that.)
I dropped some things off at my layout this afternoon and, of course, found more projects that I need to do: Another support that I need to rebuild similar to the other two for an eventual pass thought for the layout, the yard for the car ferry needs to be rebedded (the existing cork has gotten warped over the years) and the track needs to be relaid anyway (a building was there to keep the entire yard covered. I decided that it needed to come out. [Questioining prototypicality and it has become a house for a mouse I think. The building where the layout is kept was an old chicken coop over 20 years ago but it is a ranch and mice still exist.] The building will be replaced with a building just for the engine and the two idler cars to be covered. Of course, the needed piece of cork can't be obtained here and i have to order it.
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal and I will have a please.
Work Front Well, the lady that bought the $1100.00 hard mattress from Nancy came in today with her paper work. Seems she did not buy a mattress protecter and sighned where she knew she could not do a comfort exchange with out one. If she had, she could have gotten to do the exchange with in 60 days. She has had the mattress for 4 months now!
Told her in the nices way I could she was up Poop Creek With Out A Paddle. Called Nancy and set a copy of the lady ticket. Told Nancy the mattress was hurting her back. Nancy said Tuff and to be honest I am more on Nancy side than the customer! I am the one that made the customer sighned where she gave up her rights to a comfort reslection with out the protecter says she was warned by me. Plus she waited 4 months to say anything, well she is screwed.
I explained to her "hard mattress are not good for your back". But she said sleeps better on a hard mattress! She said "Her son bought a firm mattress from me and has sleep's great on it"! Looked up his ticket and showed her what he bought! Yep, it was a softer mattress that cost $600.00, not $1100.00.
der5997Ken: The rock formation you showed us just after Christmas looks really good! I like the way you’ve done the softer rock between the harder layers:
Der Thanks for the kind words. Now that I know better and looking at it for years I see many mistakes I made. I painted it from tips I watched on U-Tube and made up a lot of the mistakes I made.
Ed I have no idea of how many F units I have. Guess I like them because when I was bettwen 4 and 8 years old I saw them from my grandfathers house over looking the B&O yard. SD 7 and 9's are around 7 or 8 engines. Need to get the B&O Sd's back on the rails. In the mean time I am enjoying the Bessemers draging coal! Might B&O F7's are working hard on the B line and the CB&Q's are running like they normally do. They are pulling and sounding great!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
I have to disagree with my friends on Nascar. In 1958 my parents vacationed in Myrtle Beach and I remember all those wonderful old cars racing around a (dirt?) track. It' not like that now. Nascar has changed. I went to one race at Dover and everyone to the left, right, up and down was smoking cigarrettes and getting drunk as a lord.
I also went to the Baltimore Colts division win before the Greatest Game Ever Played with the NY Giants and nearly every home game after until 2 years before they moved to IN. I no longer recognize NFL football with the taunting that goes on and the victory dances. To paraphrase a popular phrase, it is not my NFL.
There are Nascar drivers I would boo, but unlike most NFL and NBA players, they all have charitable foundations that actually contribute to society. They don't get knifed or shot in bar fights.
All the entertainment related professions make way too much money to be healthy. Because they are in the 0.01% in income, they think they are smarter than the rest of us.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Mint tea, please.
***Ulrich, that is a fantastic vid of the Japanese trains. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Do you know what kind of bird that is on the front locomotive placard?
Cheers! Rob
Rich - I couldn't agree more about NASCAR. I lost interest a couple of years ago because I miss the days when the teams came up with new innovations that nobody else had thought of & blew the socks off everybody. Now it's just plain boring with all cars having to be identical.
Pretty busy weekend railfanning. 10 trains on Saturday & 15 today. Foreign power was 1 BNSF & 3 Union Pacifics.
11 intermodals
2 trash trains
8 mixed freights
1 coal train
2 crude oil
1 auto rack
Last weekend, CSX across the river was having problems, yesterday was Norfolk Southern's turn. At least 1 broken rail & a bunch of problems with locomotives. Computers shutting down, traction motors going off line, etc. makes for interesting radio chatter. Today a tresspasser was reported on the tracks by a conductor. Heard later that the police had nabbed him. I'm amazed with all the fatalities that people still walk the tracks. Takes all kinds I suppose.
Dinner tonight was a London Broil, roasted mix vegatables, key lime pie, & a bottle of wine from Seneca Lake. I'm very contented right now & looking forward to bedtime. Stay safe & have a great week.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
FRRYKid SS Express YGW......I have no love for the current crop of NASCAR drivers, which makes watching the races on Sunday afternoons more like a snoozefest!! I presume you have seen the new format that the Monster Energy series will be running this year. I think that should make it a little more interesting.
SS Express YGW......I have no love for the current crop of NASCAR drivers, which makes watching the races on Sunday afternoons more like a snoozefest!!
YGW......I have no love for the current crop of NASCAR drivers, which makes watching the races on Sunday afternoons more like a snoozefest!!
I presume you have seen the new format that the Monster Energy series will be running this year. I think that should make it a little more interesting.
The more NASCAR changes things around, the less I watch. I guess I am old school!! Take off the plates and let them race back to the start/finish line like the good ole days. Daytona is the race I watch every year. After that, I would rather watch modifieds at Martinsville, Richmond, or New Hampshire. The series just ain't what it used to be...............
Rich
I´ll be slowly calling it a day. But before hitting the hay, I´d like to share some video footage of a 1/1 scale steam train in rural Japan. The countryside is so beautiful! My stay in Japan was nearly 30 years ago, but I still have fond memories on how neat and clean it was - back then!
Well, here is the video:
Enjoy:
John - thanks for sharing the pictures! There is something really nice in the making! I remember the pictures of all those tiny detailed things you made a few ears ago! I wish I would still be able to do something like it!
Right now, I am making plans for a simple layout based on Kato Unitrack. Everything clicks together, which makes it easy for me to handle, desoite the tremor in my right hand.
der5997There’s a turnout and another oval of track…..
グッドナイト
That´s pronounced "good-(toh)-nite-(o)" and means exactly that!
My wife has been making some of my favourite meals so I have been well fed since I came home although I find I can't eat a lot at any one time. She made a roast chicken with a leek dressing (stuffing) that has roasted carrots, mushrooms, bacon and a lot of white wine. It is an old French country recipe. Fantastic!
Der, hope your wife is recovering well.
Ulrich: When I first saw a video of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, I found it quite odd, that most of the line is built on a trestle. It was certainly much cheaper to erect the trestles than to do any extensive grading work in this rough terrain, but maintaining the trestles must be a killer for any profitability. I just love the steam locos for their unique design. I am surprised no one ever had the idea of making a working model of them. Shapeways has a non-operational 3D print in both HO and O scale, the latter one being rather expensive. Hmmm…trestles; I haven’t modeled one of those since the 80s – maybe a small one would fit in my N3n tourist line??? Jan 29 update: I’ve thought some on this and decided against a wood trestle, but for a two arch stone bridge to carry that N3n line across a road and stream right at the front edge of the layout. This is inspired by your last layout, thanks! The arches of the bridge will give a view through to a station, as well as enabling me to include “drainage” for some of the hills which will occupy the layout space to the right of the bridge. The road also solves the access problem for the station. One of those “paint yourself into a corner” layout planning things where the tracks work OK, but the wee folks have no place to come and go!
When I first saw a video of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, I found it quite odd, that most of the line is built on a trestle. It was certainly much cheaper to erect the trestles than to do any extensive grading work in this rough terrain, but maintaining the trestles must be a killer for any profitability. I just love the steam locos for their unique design. I am surprised no one ever had the idea of making a working model of them. Shapeways has a non-operational 3D print in both HO and O scale, the latter one being rather expensive.
Glad to see you’ve been able to get the Japanese loco out for a run! Did you see my PM? There’s a turnout and another oval of track….. Thanks for posting those many videos. Magnificent!
Ray: Delightful photos of you and new friend. Did you come across this news item? https://ca.news.yahoo.com/hygge-danish-secret-surviving-winter-150000144.html The photos resonated with that for me! Those tile rocks Rock!
Rob: Good to know there is progress in the train room. Yeah! I know what you mean about everything taking ages! Looking forward to your pics.
Garry: Good looking photos – (he said suppressing urge to break 10th Commandment )
Now, Train Front: I’ve started on the scenery. But before any of that could happen I’ve had to fix, which required surgery, no less than 3 turnouts which either started not to function as to derailing, or motor issues. Not clever when the ballast is in – but all seems well now. Then I went over the entire layout to identify the spots where the ballast needed touching up. This is a function of my choice of roadbed. For those new to class (HugeBTW) I used that adhesive-one-side foam strip. Couldn’t split it lengthwise and slope the edges because of the adhesive – so there were sharp edges from which the ballast easily fell or washed away. The straight edge in the foreground shows the effect, but is actually a cut-out in the regular ballast for a station. The blue marker pins show spots needing attention. In all there were 175 such places. Quite the sight layout-wide. Once those were all fixed, and the places where I thought the lighter coloured ballast was too bright toned down with a darker spray, it was on to the scenery for the hills. I’ve stated with the hill which has two tunnels, and in laying that out decided to “Daylight” more of the entrance for each tunnel mouth. I’ve lost the photos of the first 2 layers of foam on the foreground hill, but here’s what 3layers looked like on it, and 2 on the larger one beyond it.
and covered that with flattened out crushed foil. Then I applied Gap Filler foam and waited for it to completely cure. (This photo is of partly cured – the volume difference is significant) Once that was cut away from the layout base and leveled off to below the top of the scenery, I painted the inside surface of the tunnel liner. On fitting the whole thing back in place just now, I see that there has been shrinkage along the length – I didn’t anticipate that and will have to work around it as now that test train snags on the inside of the curve. The solution was to squeeze the sides a bit and peg the edges to the layout base with bamboo cooking skewer pieces. Test run proved OK, but for some reason the pics won't post from Photobucket. Oh well, no time to puzzle that through now. TTFN.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Good morning.......
I am finally feeling better after having some sort of crud since wednesday.
Layed in bed for most of that time, Dr stuck me on antibiotic, head no longer in vise but nose keeps pouring. now has moved to a cough. It acts like it is in the last throws of illness.
You could move the diner to Paducah KY........
If I were up early on the 1st I would move the diner back in time to the Thomas Viaduct Hotel, originally the site where the B&O Railroad would swap out the horses.
It was a hoping place in the late 1880's when people would lay over at the hotel on their way north and south. It housed a station, restaurant and hotel.
In today's world it is an out of the way location, that wouldn't seem to make sense for a hotel. In the days before sleeping cars, it would have been a very convenient spot to stop for the night. It was torn down years ago and there is nothing left except the builders monument to the Thomas Viaduct.
More pics of the hotel can be found here, a lost Victorian treasure.
http://thomas-viaduct-relay-maryland.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-viaduct-hotel-train-station-in-relay_2423.html
Morning diners,
The internet connection was down for two days.
Beach Bill yes I did receive the email for C&O information.
While the internet was down I did some track work for my modern SBSO. In the January issue of MR track plan of two railroads in a bedroom. I liked the power plant arrangement. Circling around the coal load. I could push the empty hoppers while putting loaded ones in, and enough for fuel tank cars. The length with two locomotives, 2 tank cars, 8 hopper cars is 55". I had to lengthen the yard an extra 20" for the power plant consist. I could make it a shelf layout. But the plant will be an add on but their's no room.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Good morning.
Ray ..... I'm impressed with your scenery project in WPF. Outstanding work !
Ulirch ... There are so many good choice about where the Diner should go. ....
Chicago, the rail hub of Ameirca, is always interesting.
If you want to visit a railway museum, there are several good ones to consider. I have been to the British Ry Museum in York, England, and it is worthwhile. Other great one I have visited include B&O Museum in Baltimore, MD;Illinois RR Museum in Union, IL; and Callifornia Railroad Museum in Sacramento. ... It has been many years since I was at the Pennsylvania Museum and it was good when I saw it. ... The Museum of Transport in St. Louis has a great collection, and it has been a long time since I was there. ...... Smaller RR msuems I have seen are the AZ RR Museum which I just visited last week, and the KY RR Museum which is about 200 miles from where I live. ... They have websites if you want to research them.
Sunday, January 29th, 2017!
Good Morning, Everyone!
Brunhilda, I think I´ll be going for my usual big Sunday breakfast - you know, that´s pancakes, maple syrup, crisp fried bacon, scrambled eggs, buttered toast and jams, a tall glass of OJ and coffee in an IV bag, please.
Due to the pain, my moving around is a little limited. I still take it easy on the pain killers, though. If things get worse, I´ll have to throw in a couple of them.
Here is today´s video:
As January is already coming to an end, any idea where we should stay in the coming month?
cudakenMy self, I try to educate the customer so they pick what they need, not what they think they want.
Good for you!
Evenin' folks!
Janie a refil for my decaf would be great!
I have been trying to get several other things done including the MLK art and poetry stuff finished to be published in the local paper (it was Thursday). I have photograph and scan all the winners for our files, and then took all the info over to the paper on a CD for them to use. I have also been working down at my church trying to get sound hooked up (new speaker system) in the Narthex of the church. That ran into several roadblocks to get the wires in place as I said in an earlier post. Also got more done with the annual tax STUFF today... But.... I actually did a bit of scenery done or at least started on the SLO&W the last few days. Just put in some progress photos over in the Photo Fun thread. To be short and concise here I started with this done a couple months ago:The rock work is made out of broken up ceiling tiles. And after considerable work painting, adding grass and other stuff, it is now about half done and looks like this:About 2/3rds done. There will be a 22" long scratch built Truss Bridge spanning the creek if I ever get busy and build it...
Have a safe and pleasant night everyone!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good Evening,
Der, glad to hear you missed that storm.
Henry, I have always regarded the term shunting to be interchangible with switching but I don't know if it is because of railway practice in Canada in the '50s or if it is from my Dad's British heritage. I often think of doing a little 'shunting' on my layout. I also had a few British railway books when I was a young lad that relatives from England sent me so perhaps I picked up the term there. I'll have to ask a fellow here who is very familiar with railway practice here. Anyway interesting point.
Well time for a little tellie. I've already had my coffee( decafinated) and snack so nothing further otherwise I'll be up too many times in the night. One side effect from my surgery is that your bladder just can't hold much at first and must get re-stretched. It is getting a little better but is a slow process. Heck, I'm just glad it is working properly but 3 or 4 times a night does get tiresome.
CN Charlie
Der, good to see you back. Did you get that nasty storm that hit Moncton a couple of days ago?
Good night all, and prayers for all in need.
Flo, Ed and I will have a Crown Royal please, OK I rather have the Flo.
Work Sucked! Spent a hour and 45 minutes with a couple, wife was ready to buy and she and I where setting the delivery date. It seemed like a done deal. Then the husband pulled "I want to do some research trick. Then added we will be back"! Yea, and I will be 25 again.
Worst thing today? Right before closing I had a customer come in that bought from Nancy (owner's wife) about 4 months ago when Nancy worked with me last. Woman has back problems and wanted a firm mattress. (firm is not good for your back) So Nancy forced feed her a Well Made Mattress but to dang firm.
Customer thinks it is to soft and wants it replaced under warranty. There is no visble impressions on the mattress. What I wanted to say was Nancy would not know a hole in the ground from a ash pitt, all she wanted was your money! She does not know caboose about mattress, it just easyer to sell you what you want not what you need! So I will turn this one over to Nancy and keep my mouth shut, well will try.
My self, I try to educate the customer so they pick what they need, not what they think they want.
hon30critter Heartland Division CB&Q I also have metal pieces in my spine. It was a long time ago now that a drunk driver broke my back. Do you suffer from back pain? (Hopefully not!). Dave
Heartland Division CB&Q I also have metal pieces in my spine. It was a long time ago now that a drunk driver broke my back.
Do you suffer from back pain? (Hopefully not!).
Dave. It still bothers me a lot, but I am thankful for the surgery which corrected most of the damage. It could be much worse. Thanks for asking .
Ah.... Evenin' Folks!
Janie, I'll have the Spagetti Dinner with all the trimings tonight.... Oh and a glass of Fox Run Reisling to go along with that, please.
Big Daddy, Shunting refers to moving or switching the train onto a different track around the danger (IIRC). (edit) OK, Ed got it right! In many countries Including most of Europe a shunter is what they call a switcher so shunting is refered to in different terms.... So the Amtrack should have 1.) been under a form 19 (or whatever they call it now) to move under vastly reduced speed, and 2.) that it would be placed on a free track to go around the construction/repair taking place. I remember when that incident took place. Interesting to read why it happened.
I haven't been in for a couple days (if anyone noticed) due to trying to get caught up on a stack of items that should have been done a while back. Still have most of it to get done, BTW. A friend and I from church have been trying to finish up the installation of 3 new speakers for the Narthex of the church. The Electrician (Old Scouting Buddy of mine) had been there for 3 days trying to get the electric lines and the input wires from the sound board up in the crawl space above the ceiling there. He found it was almost impossible to get in there to work. Turns out the Narthex and the balcony above it are not original to the structure of the church. The oldest photo we have of the church from the early 1900's shows that there was just a roof and several columns and the Narthex is where that porch was. I wouldn't be surprised that the columns are still there just covered by the addition. There is a 5' space from the old ceiling/roof of that to the drop ceiling that is there now.... Walls in the space don't jive with where the walls are in the space between the balcony and the narthex either. He had a lot of fun! Then when He finally got done and they put the speakers on the shelves where they are supposed to be......... (sigh) The electric boxes are blocking the space so the speaker won't fit!!! So.... The guy from our property committee who built the shelves will be moving them all down about 11" so the electric will be above the back of the speaker! There is plenty of microphone wire/cable available for me to make those connections, but I can't finish until the shelving is reinstalled correctly. So I soldered up the one XLR fitting on the end of the cable that will bridge from the hearing asst. unit and went home. I was hoping to be able to adjust the speaker output levels tomorrow during church. The guy who made the shelves can't move them until next Wednesday, so I guess I will finish up my part late next week. Actually that turns out to be good as I found out my little grandaughter will be the reader again this week. I guess all the powers that be say she did a great job last week! She is 9 years old and the youngest before her was 11 or 12. I am proud of her to say the least.
Have gotten a few minutes to do some more on the scenery of the area where Keuka Creek and Millo Mills will be on the layout. (Photos soon...) Also have been getting a spreadsheet done of stuff for this years taxes. Want to get that done and in ASAP as I have all the info for it. Should be getting a large refund (I hope!).
Time to eat... Catch you all later!
BigDaddyWhat is shunting? I'm guessing turnout have to be set to keep the train off the fouled tracks, but wouldn't that happen anyway?
Shunting is purposefully bridging the two rails to trick the signal system into "thinking" there is a train there.
Much of the maintenance-of-way equipment is insulated so it does not affect the signal system. A track should be placed out of service if maintenance is being performed.
By placing a shunt, which very much resembles a set of battery jumper cables, across the rails it will trip signal systems into displaying red signals as if there is a train on that particular section of track.
I'm off to read the report you linked. I'm fascinated by that stuff.
Have you seen the FedEx truck get blasted with the passenger train in Salt Lake City? Video all over the web. That one will be a litigation fiasco. It looks as if a signal maintainer was inside the shanty at the time and disabled the crossing gates!
Shunting on the other side of the pond is our "switching".
Quite fascinating to note that on January 29, 1988, exactly 29 years ago, a very similar accident occurred with #66 The Night Owl which hit a ballast regulator on a track that should have been out of service.
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/30/us/24-hurt-as-amtrak-train-derails-key-rail-operator-leaves-scene.html?pagewanted=all
These two wrecks happened within a few hundred yards of each other, just south of Highland Ave. Station in Chester (Marcus Hook) Pa.! Amazing...
Be back later... Ed
Heartland Division CB&QI also have metal pieces in my spine. It was a long time ago now that a drunk driver broke my back.