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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, December 2018, from the Christmas City of Bethlehem Pennsylvania! Locked

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, December 2, 2018 8:49 AM

Well, as Mario Puzo said, "Fools never die". If you check Google Maps, you will find that Orbisonia sports a gas station, a drug store, a hardware store, a small furniture store, a dollar store, a food market, a used car lot, a pizza place and an undertaker - that´s about all. The population has been constantly declining. The place is dying and one would think they´d welcome any opportunity to attract business.

Apparently they are all well beyond their sell-by date.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by up831 on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:04 AM

Good morning Diners,

Brunhilda, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.

This month we're in Bethlehem, PA.  That's right close to Nazareth, PA, which is home to the Martin Guitar factory and Andretti Racing.  Martin has factory tours, but i doubt Andretti has them.  It would be an idea, though.  We did the Martin tour in 2013.  I really enjoyed it and so did my wife.

EBT:  Everybody probably knows this, but for the newbies, MR ran a story on the EBT in the September or October 1961 MR complete with plans of one of their Mikados and their rolling stock.  I hope maybe Steve O or someone can verify the issue.  It's a fascinating railroad and an alternative to Colorado narrow gauge.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

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Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:41 AM

Morning folks,

At church right now, later my family is doing our annual Christmas picture with "Santa Claus" the outdoor equipment company Bass Pro Shops does em for free so...

Well I'll be around.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by mammay76 on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:48 AM

Good Sunday morning to everyone! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Rainy and gloomy here in RI! Finishing up my presentation for tomorrow, and working on some drawings for benchwork for my ARR build. I've decided NOT to build a version of the MR project, due to the fact that it will be very time consuming, and the end result is not something I plan on keeping anyways. I've already experiemented with winter scenery on two HO scale dioramas, (two years ago) and was very pleased with the results. If anyone is interested in seeing some pics, just let me know and I'll post them up!

Anyways, hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Joe

Modeling:

Providence & Worcester Railroad

"East Providence Secondary"

HO scale

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Sunday, December 2, 2018 11:17 AM

The locomotive is an electric locomotive (green stripes) Diesels and other work equipment have BLACK stripes. So do self propelled MOW cars.

I guess they wqant to see at a glance weather the machine they plan to use ie electric or diesel.

 

|If they just want to haul work cars about the subway, they will use the electric, but they have to use the diesels for major work that requires the shut off of the third rail.

 

That box in the front of the cab has batteries in it, enoiugh to power the loco (at slow speed) across any gaps in the third rial

 

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, December 2, 2018 2:29 PM

I+ll be heading for the hay in a few moments.

Here is a bit of music for the season!

G´night, Everyone!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by wojosa31 on Sunday, December 2, 2018 2:39 PM

Tinplate Toddler

On a side note, the group of 13 families who emigrated to North America back in 1683 later became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

 

 
Quite interesting, since my wife is a lineal descendent of one of those families.
 
I never met GHW Bush, but I have a great deal of admiration for him. He led quite an amazing life.
 
Boris
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Posted by Billwiz on Sunday, December 2, 2018 2:47 PM

Welcome everyone to my home state of Pennsylvania.  I'm about 1.5 hours away from Bethlehem, and have live in PA all my life.  Be sure to travel to Strasburg, PA in Lancaster County to see the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the Choo Choo Barn (an O gauge display), The Toy Train Museum, then travel to Shartlesville to see Roadside America (the grandaddy of O gauge displays).  And there is plenty more to see in Eastern PA.  

This Saturday my church hosts our third annual Polar Express and Craft Event.  We will have crafters selling their wares, but far more important are all the model railroaders bringing in train layouts.  We will have Z through G represented, with around 10 layouts.  We also have wooden "Brio" trains and a Lego train.  If anyone is going to be physically in the area this weekend PM me and i'll give you the details.

Have fun in the Keystone State!

 

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Posted by howmus on Sunday, December 2, 2018 2:56 PM

Afternoon Folks!

I got this in an email from a guy out at the R&GV RR Museum: " 

The Union Pacific will have a special George H. W. Bush Funeral Train.  It should be led by a special Union Pacific locomotive number 4141 in honor of the 41st President.  Here is the Union Pacific website with all the information:
 
Scroll down to the second page on the website below for all the information.
 
 
 
This morning as I left for church, I happened to notice that the two Extension Cords I had sitting out on the deck waiting for me to put the obligitory lights up on the deck rails were among the missing.  Guess the theives did get something last week.  Not worth a whole lot.  Those cords were about 20 years old.....  So, I will pass on putting up the stuff outside and will go back to my old standby of Advent Candles in the windows inside.  Since it is now "ADVENT" I can put those up and keep properly with the season......  Whistling
 
Since we are in PA for the month, how about a side trip to spend a day at Steamtown?  My oldest son and I visited Steamtown back in 2004, I think.  These are all photos I took of that trip.  Lets start with some of the beautiful scenery PA has to offer....
 
This was late evening at the campground near Scranton we camped at.  If you look really close you will see the eyes of the two does that were behind our site.  (Clic to enlarge and you should see them.)
 
 
The next several were taken from the train...  I'll tell you more about trip we took in another post in a day or two:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enjoy!
 
73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, December 2, 2018 3:41 PM

Saw some different stuff at Greenburg than I usually see at Timonium.  Of course lots of Lionel and American Flyer.  Hardly any toys, a guy selling quadcopters, matchbox cars and holiday ceramic houses and that was about it for non-train related.  Well t-shirts, old MR mags, books and a guy who comes to both shows to sell his rail artwork.

Saw my first Menards building, a Dairy Queen in O scale.  A bit too bright for my tastes and way too new for my era.  A fair amount of Bowser, BLI and newer Atlas and Athearn.  Lots of BB stuff and bits and pieces of locos, and tenders. 

I did see those cheap Chinese people figures.  They are a bit small and not many men I know where those shades of red and purple.  I would not recommend them.

I saw a Viriginia steamer in a red box and was trying to figure out who made it.  It had a large billboard type VIRGINIAN on the tender.  He said it was Fleischmann, make by Life Like or maybe he meant Fleischmann made it for LL, but now Walthers makes the same engine in China.

It was $175, but I don't need anymore engines to convert to DCC.  Lots of AHM and IHC steam and quite a bit of N scale.  I came home with a mouse pad from the WM Historical society.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, December 2, 2018 4:03 PM

For some reason, beyond my control, I am on the way to Chicago.

.

REALLY?!?!?!?!?

.

I am leaving 80 degree weather and blue skies to hang out in the frozen Mid-West. When did my life take this turn?

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by cudaken on Sunday, December 2, 2018 6:00 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, get the gang and I a Beer please.

 Had a Train Day Planed, then Wife got in the way. Sigh Won't go into all the details but wife wants me to Buy her a wrench so she can open the front door! Whistling Yep I bet Acer Hardware will have that!

 BBQ Front Had the worst BBQ fire ever! If I had not looked when I did, my roof problems may have been over. Well the barts are toast and so is Sue's hunk of rib's. My ribs seem to be fine? Big Smile

 Train Front Funny thing when went to run the B&O SD 7 #764 today. Lashed up a container train and gave her some power, hum freight cars where still sitting there? Went and took a peak and coupler was still hooked up but part of coupler pocket was laying on the track? So that was the lose part I found in the box? Not a problem, I have a extra one.

 B&O F7A 235 I was hoping to speed match to the B&O F7 A&B lash up, but wife got in the way. So it took the contrainer train and did fine by it self.

 Presdent Adams B&O Heavy Pacific, it was a great puller, note was? Dragged 11 heavy pullman coaches with not a problem, till I tried to back up. Tender is light so it derailed, not a problem! Today I read the CV's with Decoder Pro adjust some sound CV's then nothing? Must have zig when I should have zag. Sure it is not a engine problem, just me.

 Well wife has another Honey Do, so later Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, December 2, 2018 6:12 PM

Ken I guess that's why the Diner doesn't serve te buarts  Big Smile

Watching world cup skiing the last 2 weeks.  Technology has made this a crazy sport.  Two torn ACL's are a rite of passage, but not only blown out knees, but concussions, fractured pelvises, dislocated shoulders, broken backs.  They wear an airbag that inflates and protects their back if they fall.  Yesterday one of the men fell and went flying upside down and backwards into the fence, tearing his ACL and dislocating his shoulder.

He laid there screaming like Lindsey Vonn when she tore her ACL.  Lindsey, who did not ski because of yet another injury, has an amazing record, second only to Stenmark.  She is the announcers favorite, though they don't mention her unfortunate choice of golf partners.

I can't imagine what these atheletes will feel like when they get my age.  Lots of things hurt, without having crashed my body into things for a good portion of my life.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Sunday, December 2, 2018 6:19 PM

heres some of my memories of the EBT:

2003 was the first year I went, and swear I saw 14 And 15 together. 

2004 Was a year we skipped

2005 was the year both steamers were down, so the little narrow gauge diesel M7 pulled the train.  But, you couldnt see it from the cupola of the caboose, so it felt like we were a runnaway. 

2006, didn't ride, but chased it coming home from Cass.  It was hot that year in August. 

2007. The first year dad and I went on the fall spectaculnar trips. This was the year The EBT lost the 20 coach on a run...the couplers disengaged outside of orbisonia after The bridge. So, we had to back up and re couple to the private coach.   I fell in love with the place that year. 

2008, this was the year I got an okay camera and photograpged a lot. 

2010: saw the boiler of the K4 on the shop tour. 

2011: the last trip I took with my dad for train Trips. I photographed everything that year, something inside told me "photograph it all. Things are going to change soon" 

 

now its all gone, the trips, the well maintained yard, and my dad. All gone. :(

(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).  

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Posted by angelob6660 on Sunday, December 2, 2018 8:33 PM

Evening Diners,

Long time without visiting. Most of the time I been playing 

SWBF2

I haven't really designed or touched my trains, but I have still buy them expanding my roster.

Walking around the neighborhood seeing Christmas lights excites me. Each time of years come and goes of me being disappointing by these Lights

Ridiculous stupid Lazy Lights these for a plague that is destroying Christmas lights watching when walking or driving along. 

See the difference in decorating.

Lights1Lights2Lights3

Makes you wonder. I hate Christmas lights with those Lazy  Lights on them it ruins the spirit. If you have the same argument or a different one that's okay. 

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:27 PM

Good Evening to all.

I hear that the SD70Ace that was painted to honor President Bush will be used to carry his remains to the family plot in College Station, Texas:

 

https://www.up.com/media/media_kit/bush41/index.htm

 

That is quite fitting. I understand Mr. Bush was quite a railroad enthusiast.

 Presidential wave goodbye by Mike Danneman, on Flickr

I hope everyone is doing well.

Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends.

Regards, Ed

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:35 PM

Good evening. 

I remember PA’s slogan : “You have a friend in Pennsylvania “.   We have more than one however. Nice! 

Billwiz. ... Thank you for posting your welcome to Pennsylvania.  We welcome you to the Diner and hope you will participate some more. feel free to tell about your model railroading. ... I hope to see more Pennsylvanians this month. 

Jimmy ... Thank you for sharing your EBT memories . 

Henry... It sounds like the show was fun. 

Meat ... Thanks for telling us about UP’s 41 special funeral train. 

Boris .... Good to see you here. I agree about 41.  Actually I have much respect for 41, 43, and the rest of the Bush family. 

Lion ... Intersting locomotive. 

Kevin ... I think you will survive the cold in Chicago.  By the way, we are heading to Florida very soon. 

Ken ... i have also had coupler pockets come loose like that.

A few days ago I found a screw laying between the rails. It is the kind that holds trucks on a freight car. I did not know which car it belonged to. A couple days later I ran a freight train and a flat car derailed  because one of its trucks was not screwed on.   I think the train went about 50’ with the truck not fasten on. 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:48 PM

Evening all,

Got our Christmas picture done.

While the joint chiefs were in line for the photo I was browsing around and saw a Panama Hat, tried it on and I actually look pretty good with a hat on (I'm taking a real hat not a baseball cap) we've got some hats in a closet somewheres around here that we got at an estate sale, one was a Stetson fedora I believe, I might dig it out and see how it looks.

I'm wearing a Hawaiian shirt because that was our theme for the photo.

Imgur isn't working, I'll post it in a bit.

I've been overhauling my style over the past few months, new hairstyle, new shoes, socks, I used to not really care how I looked now I always dress as if I'm going to see someone I know, guess it's part of maturing.

Here's some seasonal music.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, December 2, 2018 10:16 PM

Here's the other song I was trying to post.

Yeah YouTube isn't wanting to play it.

And here's me in a Panama hat.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, December 2, 2018 10:31 PM

The hat suits you very well, Steven.

From my early days of working on the steam locomotive, where I sported a dashing Bowler, to present day when I can be found donning a nice Stetson, Montecristi or vintage Dobbs, I have always prefered a quality chapeau.

 Ed_4070_fix2 by Edmund, on Flickr

As a young man I'll never forget being fitted for one of my early Derbies in a men's haberdashery on Fifth Avenue in New York. I was just a scruffy kid off the street but the staff in that store treated me like royalty. It was worth the price of the hat. They even dusted me off with a brush before I left the store ( which, of course, was also a Pullman tradition as well).

You look handsome in that Panama, Steven. This spring I plan to treat myself to a nice Optimo style Panama. I agree with you and share your distain for the baseball cap. Unless, of course, you play baseball. Turning the hat backwards immediately reduces your percieved IQ by 50% or more.

Regards, Ed

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Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, December 2, 2018 10:41 PM

Thanks for the compliments Ed, I'll be picking a Panama up this spring cause the straw doesn't fit the wintertime too well! Even in Louisiana! (It was 86 yesterday but it'll be a high of 50 next Saturday!)

That's something I love from the early 20th century, one always dressed as if you had somewhere important to be, and hats were a part of every outfit, nowadays some of the kids in my Life Group (Sunday School) show up in sweat pants and hoodies!? Well they probably think I'm odd for always being so well dressed!Laugh

I'll wear a baseball cap on an occasion, mostly now for keeping my hair in place when I'm doing manual labor, the only time I will wear it backwards is if it's my "nice" one and I'm sweating so I don't get the brim stained with sweat. But I go sans hat/cap 99% of the time, Unless I'm at a sporting event, its midsummer, or I'm working.

But yes backwards has a certain "idiot" look especially when you get to and past college age.

Goodnight all!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, December 2, 2018 10:44 PM

NWP SWP
we've got some hats in a closet somewheres around here that we got at an estate sale, one was a Stetson fedora I believe, I might dig it out and see how it looks.

Hi Steven,

I wear hats all the time that are fairly wide brimmed, not quite stetsons but wider brims than a fedora.  I have a couple that are nice and clean and a couple that are old and faded. I love them, particularly when it is raining or snowing. They are also great for keeping the sun off, as any westerner will tell you. I have one for warmer weather which is just regular felt and I have one for winter which is insulated and even has ear flaps (which I never use). I don't wear the worn ones out in public anymore because they have faded to an odd green colour and they are badly stained. They make me look like a hick.

They are not common in southern Ontario so some people tend to take a second look but I could care less what they think. They work!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, December 2, 2018 11:08 PM

gmpullman
I agree with you and share your distain for the baseball cap.

I have to admit to wearing the occasional ball cap, but only those with a special meaning for me. I have one with my family name printed across the front. It is denim so I suppose it makes a bit of a fashion statement (the hat, not the nameSmile, Wink & Grin). I also have one that I purchased in Halifax a couple of years ago. It has the HMCS Sackville corvette class WWII Canadian Navy warship #K181 on it.  The HMCS Sackville is the last of 123 Canadian corvettes from WWII. It is moored in the Halifax harbour and open to the public. Unfortunately it is no longer operable and would cost a fortune to restore, mostly because it is steam powered! My uncle served on a corvette during the war. 

https://hmcssackville.ca/

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by "JaBear" on Monday, December 3, 2018 3:29 AM

 

Gidday Chloe, I’ve been critical in the past, but credit where’s credit due, could you please offer young Steven a large non acholic beverage and large slice of pie of his choosing, for his opening of this months Diner. Must admit though, that Hawaiian shirts are too bright for my liking, and would also point out, you are allowed to smile in a photo.Big Smile

Bear, Was the bird a local build? or did it come from England/Canada? Herrinchoker

My apologies for such a belated reply, Sir, I’ve been having too much fun at w**K?????

That particular Mosquito was British built, the other two were of Canadian origin, though in reality all the wood work is new. You see why in this link to PZ747 which is the latest rebuild.

http://www.mossie.org/PZ474.htm

The second rebuild did have a complete fuselage which the owners hoped would be used in the rebuild so the aircraft would be more authentic, but contrary to the otherwise excellent reporting, “the Team” was not keen on using it. I was actually asked for my opinion by “Wal” Denholm, and it didn’t take me long to say that I wouldn’t sign it out, due, not only to the age of the wood work even if it was still in good condition but I’d be extremely doubtful of the continued adhesive quality of the 70 year + glue. I was not the only one to have similar doubts.

http://www.kiwiflyer.co.nz/KiwiFlyer-Issue-50-Complete.pdf

You can see No 2 fuse hanging from the wall in this photo…

IMG_0838 by Bear, on Flickr

…and I was lucky enough to see the first one fly. Here’s a short video of the take off taken by my daughter.

Bear - my folks wouldn´t be able to tell whether the Mosquito was made in England, Canada or south of the Equator - they only saw their "bottoms".

Ulrich, please note that I certainly don’t take your folks experiences lightly, but my Dad, recounted to me the first time he heard of the Mosquito. It was on the BBC news, sometime in 42, when the announcer said something along the lines that RAF Bomber Command had again carried out a raid on Berlin, this time accompanied by eight Mosquitos. Dad remembers at the time wondering how eight small insects would help Britain’s war effort. He was nine at the time, and incidentally still doesn’t like the sound of air raid sirens!

“War does not determine who is right - only who is left.” Bertrand Russell

Thoughts and best Wishes to All that need them.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Billwiz on Monday, December 3, 2018 5:25 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Billwiz. ... Thank you for posting your welcome to Pennsylvania.  We welcome you to the Diner and hope you will participate some more. feel free to tell about your model railroading. ... I hope to see more Pennsylvanians this month. 

 

Thanks.  I usually quietly sit in the back of the diner.  I'm a pastor so this is a busy time of the year for me, and I just started doctoral work with three papers due very soon, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to post some pics of Conrail locomotives, as well as some of the local excurson trains.  I have a lot of photos that need scanning.    As far as modeling, I am on "both teams", with a Lionel layout in progress, an HO that was torn down for lack of progress, a small N layout which I built for the upcoming church display and a G scale around the Christmas tree.  I've spent the past year repairing some of my HO locomotives and (hopefully) the new year will bring some time to restart something.  

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 3, 2018 5:42 AM

Billwiz,

You are a man of many talents, and we are a patient bunch, so we fully understand your priorities. Get back to us when you can.

As the President of our club, the Barrie Allandale Railway Modellers Association, I have just had contact with a potential member who has other, more important, commitments. The gentleman wanted to join our club which meets on Tuesday nights, but he has been volunteering for 50 years no less with our local Health Services as an advisor on the legal issues which people may encounter within the system. He is commited to that every Tuesday evening. He apologised for not being willing to change his priorities. I told him that he had made the right choice, and I offered him any assistance that I could with regard to his modelling.

Model railroading has to take its proper place.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 3, 2018 5:53 AM

Here’s a short video of the take off taken by my daughter.

Hi Bear,

Thanks so much for the video. The sound of those Rolls Royce Merlin engines makes my heart race.

I have only heard the actual sound of those engines a couple of times in my life. The first time I was a young teenager in Oshawa, Ontario, and I was riding my bike in the south end of town. Suddenly there was the unmistakable reverberating sound of a Merlin engine overhead. I looked up to see a WWII fighter plane on its approach to the Oshawa airport. It was too far away to identify it. Well, I don't think I had ever driven my bike as hard as I did that day to get to the airport, and there it was, a real WWII fighter. My feeble memory has let me down. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I still remember the thrill!

The reason that I knew the sound of the Merlin engines so well was that my Air Cadet Squadron had been invited to attend the first screenings of the movie 'The Battle of Britain'. We were positioned in the foyer of the theater for each showing so I got to see the film several times. I remember almost all of the details of the film. I was very moved by it.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by NeO6874 on Monday, December 3, 2018 7:30 AM

hon30critter
Thanks so much for the video. The sound of those Rolls Royce Merlin engines makes my heart race.

I always liked the "Americanized" Merlins in the P51-D made by (I think) Packard.  Not that the P51-C's Rolls-Royce was bad by any means, just a slightly different timbre that didn't tug at the ear in quite the same way.

Edit -- oops, I'll get these video links right eventually ... 

 

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, December 3, 2018 7:43 AM

Well, I am in Chicago, still not sure how this happened.

.

I woke up to news that we were getting "Lake Effect Snow", what is that?

.

It looks just as awful as any other snow I have ever been exposed to.

.

.

This is where I was last year at this time:

.

.

Wish me luck.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by NeO6874 on Monday, December 3, 2018 9:19 AM

That? Ha, that storm's nothing.  Wait til you can't even see the flagpole; THAT's a bad storm :P

Short version is that since the air is so dry (and the lake is still warm -- i.e. not frozen over), it's flash-evaporating the lake, and intensifying the storm.  

They're pretty frequent early on in the winter, since the lake takes forever and a day to freeze.  And this year's crazy weather isn't helping much.

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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