Steve
Interesting question. I have not yet built what I would really consider a proper layout. But IF I were to build a next layout after the upcoming one it would be the civil war era. I think that would be so fascinating because the Confederates were the first to really use the trains to move in mass their troops. It would be interesting to build a display of an actual battle scene with troops arriving via train... I think it would also be more challenging simply because the models are not out there for this era. So a lot of stuff would have to be scratch built...
YGW
Good Morning Diners,
Flo, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.
i was looking and realized that I did not post for the entire month of April. Not that I was missed, but l'll try to correct that with a few posts this month.
Ive not had the opportunity to stop in at Promotory. Been through Salt Lake twice, Ogden once, but for whatever reason never went to Promotory. I would like to someday.
One of my four all time favorite movies is the Cecil B DeMille epic Union Pacific with Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyk. Great fun.
We did have a very busy April and spent a good share of that time visiting MOH's sister. Saw more of Red Rock country and revisited Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is interesting for RR fans. The Santa Fe mainline goes through there on the way to Kingman or Gallup depending on the direction. Trains go thru if not every 15 minutes, then every half hour. Flagstaff is also notable for Lowel Observatory, which was instrumental in the discovery of Pluto (the planet, not the dog).
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Sure has been quiet around here. Let's start a discussion.
If you could start over again with a new layout, would you build the same railroad or something different, and why? Assume you have the same resources and time as you did when you started your current layout.
Although I'm still enamored of the same prototype and era as my current layout (1906 PRR in southwest Ohio), I would seriously consider updating it to the late 1920s, just to take advantage of all the USRA steam out there like Pacifics and Mikados that I can't run in 1906. And I've always loved the look of heavyweight passenger cars, and would like to run troop trains. Can't do any of that in 1906. Of course, I would have to redesign my layout to broaden its curves (currently 15" minimum), which would mean an unacceptable compression of my main line; I'd have to go double-deck (which would be tough in my low-ceilinged basement) or lose about half the modeled prototype.
So what would you do differently?
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Lunch time !
Well here in NOVA it is a BEAUTIFUL day. Blue skys, little puffy clouds, temps in the 70s, light breeze every thing is in bloom or green !
w**k - After yesterdays debacle with the carpenter super I sat down ( took me 48 hours to cool, down ) I sat down this morning and wrote out an email to the carpenters district supervisor and cc the carpenter super. It has brought about positive results. The district supervisor was on site two hours later walking the site himself. He told me he would get this guy going in the correct direction... I sure hope so because I am wore out doing my job and his.
Hobby front - This evening I hope to have time to install trim around the garage door openings.
Moe Larry - isnt that amazing how storm some where up stream can cause a flood down stream !
FRRYKid - That is great that you volunteer to do that. How long does it take ? That is very nice they give you a car for your RR.
Ed - Thank you again. How much do they charge for storm gaurd ?
Garry - Thanks ofr the nice comment
Howmus - I would have loved to be able to see the scouts face when they blew the whistle. I bet that was priceless !
Herrinchoker - Women are crazy when angry ! That why a lot of swat teams with a women in teh group will put her in the front. Because she will pull the trigger faster than most men ! My MIL tried to run her ex over. She actually ran the vehicle into their house after him !
JaBear - Hmmm? JaBear I wonder if the scones will be better for you if you add pineaple like you all put on everything ?
History qoute of the day:
“Distrust naturally creates distrust, and by nothing is good will and kind conduct more speedily changed.” ― John Jay, The Federalist Papers
“Among the many objects to which a wise and free people find it necessary to direct their attention, that of providing for their safety seems to be the first.” ― John Jay, The Federalist Papers
“Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer.” ― John Jay
“Those who own the country ought to govern it.” ― John Jay
TTYL
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Ken,
Tried Marvell Mystery Oil on 2ond. track, seems to work as well as the ATF, applied as with the ATF---about clubs, the Pine Tree Club was one of the watering holes for the 82ond. We had this idiot in out section who proceeded to make disparageing remarks one night about the Airbourne--the only thing that saved us was the fact we had already grabbed him by the legs and were dragging him out of the club feet first, head dragging on the floor. Leonard was 5'3", and might have weighed 125 pounds wet, after that we were careful where we allowed him to go with us, especially if juice of the grape was involved. The incident at McKellar's sounded like suicide to me. I covered one simular in one of the towns in my county. A male was confronted by his girlfriend with a serrated steak knife, threatening to kill him. He told her she "didn't have a hair on her ---" She nailed him in the heart and killed him, yep, suicide. When confronted by a woman with a weapon it sometimes is best to remove yourself as quickly as possible.
herrinchoker
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan and I will have a please.
Just plain beat tonight. Work was OK, got to see a very good friend today when he bought a mattress. Allen is a fellow Mopar guy and he is storing my 68 Road Runner at his house in a garage. After this last hail storm, I am sure glad she was not at the house! To bad I got a little busy while he was at the store!
JMRI Question Ed. I think I may know why my Decoder Pro cannot read CV's 5 and 6 on the Mighty B&O and CB&Q F7's! My verison is about 6 to 7 years old. I m guessing the F7's maybe a little newer. How do you up date JMRI?
Just beat, so later.
Ken
I hate Rust
Evenin'.... ah Janie.... You seem to be the only one here?
Guess I just need a cup of decaf for the moment and the newspaper to read, I guess.
[edit] Ah... I see Garry came in while I was reading......
Been a few days since I posted. Just way too many things going on. I did browse through the post a couple times though. Friday evening I was at a marathon session of interviews with some absolutely fine young kids. It was not an easy job to select 7 people out of the 14 we interviewed to recieve the scholarships. This years class was truely outstanding with 4 of the applicants managing to be on Honor and High Honor role all the way through through High School! They all had averages above 90 for the 4 years! One young man (whose Father I taught my first year in Geneva) has a 98 average! Just WOW!
Spent this afternoon over at school getting good photos of each of the winners for the newspaper article I wrote over the weekend. Got the photos cropped and adjusted for color, etc. and added them to the article on a USB Stick, and drove over to give it to the News Editor at the paper... He had just left for the day, and he won't be in tomorrow. He does have someone to work on the article so we left the stick and a note on the editors desk for whomever..... It should be in Fridays Paper which will give people a couple days to get tickets to the dinner. I guess the dinner has been been filling up well already.
Last Saturday I spent 10 hours at the R&GV RR Museum doing the Railroading Merit Badge with 9 great Scouts. We all had a great time. Actually some of their leaders were really into the activities too. They all got cab rides (and of course got to blow the horn), got to look over the insides of the locomotive to see the prime movers, Generators, and the traction motors. We did several things that aren't in the requirements, like at one point they got to see the 80 tonner (with the cabooses still hooked to it) couple onto LA&L #20 to pull it out of the restoration shop and also see how to put together the glad hands for the air brakes, not to mention to see esxactly how the couplers work. Then they got a ride back down the line (The rest of the troop got a cab ride then).
Even managed to get the new parts of the fascia for the layout painted and installed today.
We were under a storm warning most of the day today that included a Tornado watch for much of NYS. No tornados that I know of but we did get well over an inch of rain and some high winds along with lots of rumbling and flashes of lightning for a while.
Have a great night, and stay safe!
A few quotes:
"The Devil can cite Sripture for his purpose." - William Shakespeare
"The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils." - William Shakespeare
"He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer." - William Shakespeare
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good evening .
Ulrich ..... Thanks for starting the May Diner.
YGW ... The Hobby Barn looks great.
Of course the route of the Claifornia Zephyr includes Utah. Maybe we should order off the menu. I found a copy of the old CZ menu on the innternet and would post it here if I knew how o copy GIF files into Photobucket to post here.
Cheers .
.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hello Fellow Diners!
Here is YGW's first Hobby Barn update for MAY...
HOBBY BARN MAY UPDATE
YGW's Construction Progress
Afternoon all. Flo (or whoever's handy) could I get a club sandwhich with cottage fries with white cheese on them and some raspberry ice tea and I will also take a serving of the offered Utah scones. Thank you some much.
Decided I need to change my schedule around for next week (pending Mom's approval of course). I was asked to dust the railroad display at the local museum. It has been about every two years that I check on it. (It is that time again.) I am finding that I have no ambition on a Monday to do the cleaning, but I think a Tuesday might give me more of a chance.
In the process, with the museum's permission, I have gotten a car from the display for my layout. It was among a bunch that were the wrong era for the display. The curator was nice enough to let me snag it as it fit my era perfectly.
Afternoon Diners,
I'm surprised that the locomotives were replicas in the 1970s. I thought the golden spike and something else were replicas.
I have a picture of myself in drawing form during a train show years back in the famous photograph of the workers standing on the locomotives. Later on I'll show on the 10th.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Good morning,
well I start May off with going to the bank to get the fraudulent CC charges reversed. Someone skimmed my wife's CC at a gas station and bought things in Dallas and Memphis over last weekend. Lucky they only charged about $250 and I will get it all back. But the hassel of cancelling the card etc etc.
It appears the 10+ inches of rain North of us has riased the Ohio river levels this morning.
Morning all
Been AWOL for about a week. ran into a problem on site with an underperforming carpenter superintendent. Been trying to help him do his job to keep the project moving. Even with my help he is not getting the job done. I have started cc his boss to make him aware that this guy is underperforming. Hopefully they will get him some assistance and on the right path. His supervisor told me if he doesnt get the job done he will be replaced.
Train front: Not much news put up some siding this weekend. It is painfully slow process....The height makes it slow.
Ulrich - Wonderful job on selection. Thank you very much !
Steve - Thanks for the desert. Yummy !
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment to friends; and that the most liberal professions of good-will are very far from being the surest marks of it
slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment to friends; and that the most liberal professions of good-will are very far from being the surest marks of it
It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.
Trial by jury in civil causes,... trial by jury in criminal causes, [and] the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus... all stand on the same footing; they are the common rights of Americans.
So far as this has gone, I am satisfied to see a spirit prevailing that promises to send the system out free from those vexations and abuses that might be warranted by the terms of the Constitution. It must never be forgotten, however, that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government, as by the limitation of power.
Thanks for moving the Diner, Ulrich. Nice job on the intro! You always add a little extra.
Since we're in Utah, the Beehive State, at the top of the diner's Daily Specials board is Utah scones, which are more like fry bread served with butter and, of course, honey. Dig in!
Just on a side note - if you´d like to have a Gauge One (that´s 1/32 scale on 45mm track) model of both CP´s #60 "Jupiter" and UP´s #119, the Spanish company Ocio Creative (OcCre) makes nice metal & wood kits, which can also be motorized!
A word of caution - these are not beginner´s kits, but construction is very well documented and takes just an extra amount of care.
Visit occre.com for info on availability in the US.
Street price for a kit in Europe is about $220 including VAT, which will have to be deducted if you import it from Spain. I have seen prices in the US being 5 times that high!
Edit: I just found a video playlist on Youtube, documenting the building of UP #119. Never mind the narration in German, the built itself is without words, but good music!
Ulrich:
Thanks for opening the diner in such a timely spot. Again, another great video too.
I have N scale models of both #119 and 'Jupiter'. Alas, they are destined to be cannibalized for making my HOn30 critters. My bad!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Ulrich,
Well done,------well done!
Since we're celebrating the Transcontinental Railroad I thought we could say Happy Birthday to Amtrak's 46 years.
Ulrich: Thanks for opening the diner. Stephen Ambrose's "Nothing Like It in the World" is a great read concerning the determination and corruption around the completion of the transcontinental railroad. How those surveyors mapped the route through the Sierras without the technology we have today is mind boggling.
Mr. B: Could we see you riding the Arizona roads some time soon?
Richard
Welcome to Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner in its May 2017 location!
This is a place to gather, a place without an agenda or a topic. It's free to all, to read, to join in, or just to enjoy some virtual food. Our gracious hosts ask only that we avoid certain hot-button topics like politics and religion that sometimes raise tempers.
You'll get to know the friendly staff just by listening. It's a place to share your day, your concerns, your joys and sorrows. Welcome aboard!
This month, we are located at a special place, 32 miles west of Brigham City and 66 miles northwest of Salt Lake City in Box Elder County, Utah. If you check the place on Google Maps, you won´t see much there, a rather dry and barren stretch of land, but a place where US history was written on May 10th, 1869!
On that date, the Union Pacific Railroad met the Central Pacific Railroad at a place later to become known as Promontary Point. The last tie was laid and the golden spike was driven into it, uniting the East and the West and turning the USA into a nation spanning the continent!
In 1965, the site has been made into the Golden Spike National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service.
On the 110th anniversary of the "Golden Spike" on May 10, 1979, two purpose-built replicas of the UP #119 and the Jupiter #60 were brought together on a specially relaid 1½ mile section of track. As the original Jupiter was scrapped for iron in 1901 and No. 119 was broken up two years later, the two replica locomotives were built in California with $1.5 million of federal funds. They were reconstructed using scaled-up measurements taken from photographs of the original engines.
The park, which has a visitor center and an engine house, is open throughout the year. Several walking trails and audio driving tours allow visitors to see the old cuts along the permanent way highlighting the effort needed to construct the railroad over Promontory Summit. On every Saturday and holiday between May 1 and Labor Day, the two replica locomotives are lined up to re-enact the "Golden Spike" ceremony.
The diner was renamed in honor of our dear departed esteemed friend, Jeffrey Wimberly. The RIP track is the place for us to pay our respect to our friends and forum members who are no longer with us.