Before today's travel installment, one quick comment. The disparaging comments about women with tattoos may be offensive to some.
Today's Flagstaff trivia involves the extended solar system. Flagstaff is the "home of Pluto." (The planet, not the Disney dog. And, yes, in Flagstaff it is still a planet.) The Mars Hill location of the Lowell Observatory is located in Flagstaff and it was at this location that Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. In addition to the Mars Hill location, the observatory has some additional "dark sky" locations including the new Discovery Channel Telescope on the Happy Jack peak.
Richard
At the train show in Tampa yesterday I ran into a very old friend, Bruce, who I had not seen in probably 25 years.
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Bruce was the founder and first president of Scale Rails of Southwest Florida in 1983. I met him when I was 15. He was very influential in my teen years, kind of kept me out of trouble and put up with me when I am sure I could be annoying at times.
He taught me how to build and repair live steam locomotives when very few people understood how they worked. He was at the train show displayijng his 1 1/2" scale (7 1/2" gauge) live steam Atlantic. When I was in high school we were working on the valve gear of this locomotive. I remember when he taught me how the eccentric established vlave timing.
Since I ran into him I have been having all kinds of memories coming back to me. He is 75 years old now. Wow. My youngest daughter is older than I was when I met him.
I can't believe I did not get a picture.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
NWP SWPSomething I'm a bit confused on, were certain models, like tin plate and stuff, equipped with working cantenaries? Working as in live, or powered?
I can´t comment on US brands, but as catenary was not common (other than some routes of the Pennsylvania RR, the Milwaukee RR and the Great Northern, AFAIK), I think it is unlikely that live catenaryv systems were offered by the likes of Lionel, AF and others. I may be wrong, though.
Marklin of Germany offered a live catenary system right from the beginning of HO trains in 1935, and so did other brands like Trix or Fleischmann. Electrification of railroads started early in Europe, namely in Switzerland, where a severe shortage of coal during WW I brought rail services nearly to a standstill.
Germany started mainly in Bavaria and the mountaineous regions of Silesia, where hydropower was available.
On my little layout, my electrics get their power from above!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Morning diners,
Went to the early morning "traditional" service so up early this morning, well early for the weekend.
Something I'm a bit confused on, were certain models, like tin plate and stuff, equipped with working cantenaries? Working as in live, or powered?
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Heartland Division CB&QUlrich .... It's fun for me to just look at your Marklin trains. You must be enjoying them. You might be re-living old memories.
Garry - actually, I am enjoying myself more with this build than when I was working on my Swiss layout. The reason might be that this layout is less challenging to build and thus more fun to me, given my limitations now.
It´s never too late for a happy childhood!
Good morning ..... A donut with coffee , please.
Here is my HO replica of a sign that was next to I-65 south of Louisville for many years. It is no longer there. .... I think it was humorous. ..
My 2 cents ..... In general, I think all tattoos are ugly no matter who has them.
Ulrich .... It's fun for me to just look at your Marklin trains. You must be enjoying them. You might be re-living old memories.
Of course, here in the USA, we had mostly Lionel or American Flyer trains in the 50's and 60's. As kid, I visited the huge Lionel display in the Toy Department of Marshall Fields Department Store in Chicago each Christmas. Of course Santa Claus was there and I would give him my long wish list.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
The first girl had something that looked like a spider web but different, lots of straight and curving intersecting lines. There wasn't one crooked line as far as I could tell. I would have needed masking tape if I was her tattoo artist.
There are piercings and then there are extreme piercings. I can't imagine getting my tongue pierced. I don't live in the big city, and I have only seen two or three people with these wedding ring sized piercings in their ears and lips. That is seriously weird.
Changing subjects, James Wright has a youtube video on MRC's new lighting decoder. It changes effects and intensities. It was not one of the more polished youtube videos for a potentially interesting system. The MRC spokesman should have rehearsed what he had to say and shots of the manual should have been edited in later.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
SeeYou190When I was young, tattoos were a good way to identify people you needed to stay away from. It is not that way any longer. Some of the greatest people I meet are covered for some reason, and the wrapping rarely matches the contents.
I try to mentally block out individuals totally covered, so they pretty much don't bother me any more. Except for one individual who tried to convince my daughter that she needed to have one.
But really bothers me are piercings. Very hard deal with any one who seems to have a speach impediment because they somehow need to have a pearl looking thing stuck in the middle of their tongue.
moelarrycurly4Uhhh......... Dave you might want to edit the post that contains the Quote from Steven that you asked him to edit.
That's a 'Catch 22' if there ever was one! I'll have to think about that. Maybe Mr. Otte will make the decision for me.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Morning!
It has cooled off considerably - outside! It will take some time to get the warm air out of the house though! Those brick buildings keep the heat well.
I hope my BP will improve now - at 110/60 with a heart rate at 95 my old engine seems to be out of tune, resulting in elephant´s feet that won´t fit into any shoe. Normal values are 130/80 at 75.
On the subject of tattoos - I have yet to see a tasteful tattoo! Justified or not, a tattoo puts people into a drawer which is not on the upper region of life´s cabinet. What´s a fashionable craze today, may cause grief and regret later on. For myself, I have decided I am not a member of the Maori people and I have accumulated a large number of "life´s battle scars" to be already sufficiently disfigured.
Janie - it´s Sunday, time for a big breakfast! So here is my order of crisp fried bacon, scrambled eggs, buttered toast and jams, lots of coffee, but hold the OJ, please!
Some "fresh" pictures from my toy train set:
Have a good one!
Evening diners,
Went to the op session everything went smoothly, (Un)Peasant Hill wasn't a issue because we had a "footboard yardmaster" to handle all the pickups and setouts, I ran four, yes FOUR trains, the Little Rock-NOLA Runner, the Marshall-Coldwater Turn (Coal Loads for Empties), the Flyash Turn (Marshall-Marthaville Turn (Flyash Empties for Loads), and the Entergy Turn (Marthaville-Bunkie Turn (Coal Empties for Loads) the last three are "unit trains" picking up loads (or empties) running then exchanging them for empties (or loads) and running back and returning the cars to the appropriate track. The Runner was a bit more work.
Not much else going on.
Here's some tunes. I have been slowly growing my music tastes, I have found that Indie Pop/Rock really appeals to me, the mainstream stuff not so much.
FRRYKidI will admit that I have a couple of them myself. In my case, they hide under my sleeves as needed.
When I was young, tattoos were a good way to identify people you needed to stay away from.
It is not that way any longer. Some of the greatest people I meet are covered for some reason, and the wrapping rarely matches the contents. People with very sketchy tattoos can be fine people.
BigDaddy When did the memo go out that tattoos were cool?
When did the memo go out that tattoos were cool?
I will admit that I have a couple of them myself. In my case, they hide under my sleeves as needed. My two are ones that I designed myself so they have meaning to me. (One is for my college graduation. The other is one for my ancestry. Both of them came after I was 30 and within 6 months of so of each other.) With a lot of people, it seems that, at least IMHO, that they want to take control of their own bodies and express themselves in their own ways. Where I work, it has been figured that somewhere around 75% of the people have ink of some sort.
I may have to try the ATF trick when I get my railroad moved to my apartment. Where the layout currently sits is very dusty and I haven't run an actual train on it for quite awhile. Would one just use cheap ATF or is a higher grade needed. (I don't drive so ATF is a mystery on that point.)
Afternoon Diners
Flo the gang and I will have a please. Give Rick and Steven what they like.
BigDaddyWhy do women have naked lady tattoos? My step father had tattoos and a naked lady, but he was a Marine and younger than my dad. When did the memo go out that tattoos were cool?
Henery I all so womder the same thing? When I was 20 I came close to getting a 18th Air Born or Militay Police's tat but never pulled the trigger. I wonder to my self "What would that look like when I was 60 plus."
Health Front I want to tell you folks that the VA will take very good care of us Vets when you get to the right person. Now getting to the right person? Well that can be a Challenge!
Later,Ken
I hate Rust
afternoon all,
I got the 1977 snapper RER all fixed up with new blade, new belt and battery. I put a "new " seat and a new starter on the engine. It fired up on the first crank. I love the older mowers as they were built like tanks.
I bought this one about 10 years ago on craigslist for $40 and have been using it since. I will eventually repaint and restore it to original. Got the yard mowed and trimmed, Now working on cleaning out the gutters.
[Note from Admin: Part of post referring to deleted post referring to deleted part of post has been deleted. Thank you.
It has finally cooled down and I am starting to feel a little better. If I now would also catch more sleep I´d be happy - almost.
One of the early plastic kits Faller produced in the 1959s was a little freight depot, which could be found on just about any layout in those days. Needless to say I wanted it to adorn my tinplate train set as well, but despite it being ubiquitous in those days, it´s as rare as hen´s teeth these days. Kits sell for outrageous prices, but I was lucky to find a built-up version for a amount hardly worth the trouble of listing it at Ebay. It arrived yesterday and is the pre-final building on my layout. The last one is on order, but I am not yet disclosing what it is!
Time to play with my trains!
TTFN!
SeeYou190 NWP SWP My friend "graduates" from the religious summer camp today so that's nice for her. . Summer just started. How can she be graduating already? Was the the world's shortest Summer camp? . -Kevin .
NWP SWP My friend "graduates" from the religious summer camp today so that's nice for her.
Summer just started. How can she be graduating already? Was the the world's shortest Summer camp?
It's a week long religious summer camp that she's attended for years now, it's basically a discipleship course for young Christians.
NWP SWPMy friend "graduates" from the religious summer camp today so that's nice for her.
Jimmy_BraumIve an interview on Tuesday! Entry level mechanic job.
Jimmy: Who with? What exactly is the job desctiption of the position you are interviewing for?
NWP SWPtomorrow morning is the Op Session at the club.
Sounds fun. Please share some pictures.
Just stopping in before hitting the sack, tomorrow morning is the Op Session at the club.
Ken, hope the VA gets their act together, good luck!
AriZona huh, well waitress give the guys a round of what they like and I'll take a Arnold Palmer.
I will skim through the book on Cajon I got in FL after graduation, I think there's some Arizona stuff in there.
Eveing Diners
Flo, get the gang and I a Crown Royal with a chaser! God knows I need one! Give Rick and Steven what they like.
Jimmy Sorry to hear about your friend and good luck with the job!
Health Front, the Long Arms Of The VA Health Care System! Went to Anderson Hospital and was there at the ER at 9:50, was in a exam room at 10:00. They did a X-Ray of the foot in the room, drew blood and at 1:00 PM wanted to adamite me. Good news there is no infection in the bone and white blood cell level was normal! Seems there is a low grade infection at this point and they wanted to start giving me intravenous antibiotics. I was a tad surpised but not shocked. But they had to call the VA First!
I told them the horrier before where I was left in a exam room for 10 hours when the VA thought I had a heart problem (beacse they lost my EKG) Anderson Hospital needed the VA permisson before they adamite me. At 3:30 PM I asked them to give me the first round of intravenous antibiotics, but they had to waite till they heard from the VA.
I told them they where waiting for the shift change that happems at 5:00 PM. They stated the intravenous antibiotics at 5:00 PM and I will be dang at 5:15 the VA called and said they had a bed for me! By the time the intravenous antibiotics was done it was was 6:15. I was there for over 8 hours and I was done for the day! Exam tables suck after 5 hours! Much less 8!
Anderson Hospitaldid call in some oral antbotics. Going to hit them up again for another round intravenous antibiotics but if I cannot get them, guess I will go to the cluster ash pit VA hospital.
Train Front PRR Coach Wars! Got the PRR Coach Lake Merritt roaming the rails! One set of wheels where way out of gauge and one coupler was low. The Mighty M1a is now dragging 8 Heavy Weight Pullmans. Hum, I wonder if it could do 10?
Happy Ken but infected again.
Evenin' folks......
So........ We in AridZoneAh for da month? Somebody said they even have trees there? Not sure I want to climb that far up any mountains to see 'em though. It should be interstin as I never been there before.....
Well Jimmy, good luck with the interview!!!
I got up and headed over to the fieldhouse for my walk this morning. Managed to do 18 laps which is about 3.25 miles, and did it faster than I have before for the 3 miles I was doing. Difference? My right hip was not hurting much.... Little by little, I'm getting there.
I'm trying to get a summer activity worked out for the NMRA Division. Looks like we might do a combined picnic with the Division East of us. Should find out if that is possible early next week and run it by my officers for approval. Also need to get some financial stuff accounted for in the MLK Committee as we have a picnic and meeting next Monday evening.
We got a band of thunderboomers this afternoon around these parts. No problem as I had to drive to Canandaigua to turn in checks for the Scholarship fund and pick up my kitty Manet's Rx for pregnizone. The Doc said she thinks the tumor is a bit bigger so we are putting him back on the treatment in hopes of controlling it for a while longer.... He will start getting his daily ear rubs again tomorrow.
Hopefully I can mow lawn tomorrow also. Trains? Who has time for trains???
AridZoneAh? They got trains in AridZoneAh??? Hmmmmmm...........
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Well got the rest of the grass mowed, the belt came off as I did the last row, it's probably going to need replacing soon. The grass should be good for a whole three days! I'll probably wait till next Sunday to mow it again being that drivers ed is Wednesday to Saturday.
My friend "graduates" from the religious summer camp today so that's nice for her.
Reached out to one of the people I met at graduation.
Went to Krispy Kreme earlier for a free donut we left with two dozen! no they weren't free!
Talked to my doctor about a bit of stomach uneasiness I had the other day and yesterday, which involved nausea and the bodily function that is derivitive of that. The doctor suggested trying an over the counter acid medication for a few days to see if it stops it.
I do not now why people get large tattoos, to each their own I guess.
Well see y'all later
My mother doesn't pay that much for assisted living. I guess their place is fancier.
Turned on Nascar practice and it was UFC fighting. How is this even legal? Choking and punching in the back of the head and that's the women. I used to be a fan of boxing but it's a recipe for long term brain damage.
One more question for you the younger generation. In the 50's and 60's most of my fathers' friend were WW2 vets. Everyone who had a tattoo regretted it and most of the tattoos were naked ladies or navy anchors.
Today at the gym there was a girl young enough to be my grand daughter. She looked like a wholesome attractive woman except for her full arm tattoo. Yesterday it was a girl about the same age, who didn't look particularly wholesome with naked lady tattoos, among many others.
Why do women have naked lady tattoos? My step father had tattoos and a naked lady, but he was a Marine and younger than my dad. When did the memo go out that tattoos were cool?
BigDaddyFour of the 10 of us were talking about moving or looking to retirement communities that transition to assited living. The going rate here is $10,000 to put your name on the reservation list and 6-7 thousand a month for one meal a day. That doesn't include $500K for your small home or apartment. No place of a layout in any of those options.
It would be less expensive to go on a all-inclusive permanent cruise. All you can eat, whenever you want, medical assistance available when you need it. Stii no place for a railroad, unless you book adjoining cabins.
Jimmy great news!
We had our retired old docs eating out (RODEO) luncheon today. Walking through the parking lot, I waved at a pediatrician driving by as I missed the curb in front of me and fell flat on my face, ripping my pants and skinning my knee. It's been decades since I skinned my knee.
Then a gastroenterologist walked in with a funky looking bandage on his had and wrist. He said it was arthritis and three of us simulataneously pointed to the exact same spot, the base of our thumbs at the wrist joint.
Four of the 10 of us were talking about moving or looking to retirement communities that transition to assited living. The going rate here is $10,000 to put your name on the reservation list and 6-7 thousand a month for one meal a day. That doesn't include $500K for your small home or apartment. No place of a layout in any of those options.
I was thoroughly bummed out by the time the meal ended. There was one funny story though.
One of the guys once pulled up to the gas dock next to the restaurant and had his passenger, a retired Coast Guard captain fill the tank. The captain shoved the fuel nozzle through the side of a rubber colar connecting the fill cap on the deck with the tank underneath. Multiple gallons of gas went into the bilge next to a hot engine. It started to smell real gassy. The gas dock guy, overhearing the resulting conversation, immediately cast them off and told them to get out of here, with word that Vinne would have to censor.
The boat did not explode. The owner used a water ski to paddle to a slip and tied it up. With trepidation he turned off the key (still no explosion) and opened all the hatches to the bilge. The next day he came back to discover the bilge pump was still connected and pumped nearly all gas into the river during the night, as the boat rocked with the wake of other boats, and there was hardly any left. He towed the boat home and let it dry out for several days and all was well.
Ive an interview on Tuesday! Entry level mechanic job.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
There is a big train show in Tampa tomorrow at the state fairgrounds. We are hitting the road first thing in the morning.
I do not know why I am so excited, we have been to plenty of train shows lately.
I hope everybody has good plans for their weekends. Stay safe!
MLC, get in your berth! Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck...
Good afternoon 1st day of June. I will be going home soon. But I shall not croon or ride in a baloon.I will not make the ladies swoon. I will not act like a big babboon. I had some ice cream I ate it with a a spoon. I can't mow the yard because it keeps coming a monsoon. Not much going on except this tune. If I don't quit soon you're going to send me to my room.....