Welcome All to Jeffrey's Trackside Diner!
This month, the diner car will be parked on a siding somewhere in the second largest state of the US. With the help of the diner patrons and forum members familiar with the locale, we will explore the state and see, what Texas has to offer in terms of railroading, model railroading and, last but not least, food. So hop on board and enjoy your stay!
For those new to this place, Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies. Everybody is welcome to participate in the Diner !
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda — is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual diner fare with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip! Now and then, our host Steven Otte chips in and brings along some goodies for us to try - which is always heartily welcomed!
At the beginning of each month, it is the time to pay our respect to friends no longer with us.
Barry Arnold aka BlownoutCylinderJerry Cox aka Cox47Wolfgang Dudler aka Westport TerminalBob Hartle aka cmrproductsEd MurphyBill NorthStein Rypern, Jr. aka SteinjrAndy SperandeoJeffrey "Running Bear" WimberleyAlan BTom MillsJames W. Rohde aka CapeJimMichael L. Myles aka Inch
Gone, but not forgotten!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Tinplate Toddler second largest state of the US. With the help of the diner patrons and forum members familiar with the locale, we will explore the state and see, what Texas
Don't let the Texans hear you called them second best. They take the "everything is bigger/better in Texas" notion quite seriously.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good Morning!
Sunday - time for my big & unhelathy breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, buttered toast, OJ and lots of coffee!
I am not sure whether we agreed upon a new location yesterday. Wisconsin appeared to be too cold yet, so I took the liberty of going south to the taste of Texas. Let´s start our time down there with a view on a Texan railroad icon!
Kevin - I am quite aware of that, but facts are facts and Alaska is more than double the size.
Thanks for doing diner duty Ulrich.
I am back in Texas, this time maybe I'll get to the Houston Space Centre. I never had enough time during past visits.
They have a sort-of train there.
Happy March all, time to cut the lawn.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Ulrich,
Thank you for moving the diner. My Grandfather, Charles Armstrong Roy, went to work for the railroad in Brownsville Texas in 1905. He was an engineer, running the train that moved Blackjack Pershing from Texas to Arizona as he chased Pancho Villia, after his incursions into the US--holding up the train coming into Brownsville, among other transgressions. Grandpa retired from the Missouri Pacific August of 1940, after being the Yard Master and interpreter for the railroad. He purchased his retirement vehicle, a 1939 Ford 2dr. roadster, which he drove until his passing in 1955, at age 94. In late January, 1942 he was called back into service for the railroad. There was a steady stream of material sent out of the port of Brownsville tied to the war effort. He retired for the second time in October of 1945. He was responsible for my fixation with steam, arranging several trips up to Harlengen and back on 2-8-0s, and 4-6-2 engines. I still miss him, he was a very patient, kind person. I have very fond memories hunting and fishing with him, and Dad.
Thanks Ulrich! Nice location, Texas. At least it's a state I've been to a couple of times. and, it's not cold! Thank you!
I have family in Texas, in San Antonio, and our son did his USAF basic training at Lackland AFB, which on the west side of San Antonio.
The family down there is more to the north east.
I never have made to the east part of Texas, I understand it's more "green", as far as landscape goes.
I think we have a few members in here from Texas, so let's get this diner going! I'm ready for breakfast......Texas style!
Lots of railroad in Texas, as well, the list of Wiki's Texas railroads is long!
Mike.
My You Tube
Thanks for taking us to Texas, Ulrich.
No breakfast this morning -- I'll have glazed donuts after church.
One of my daughters lives in the Dallas area, so we get to Texas pretty often. It's a great state.
York1 John
Good morning.
A cool sunny day in Mn this morning and one day closer to spring
Texas is fine with me Ulrich, Thanks. Wisc. was more of a funny suggestion with all the good cheese then a serious request.
You're in Texas Brent! You lucky dog 57 Chevy Bel Air. Am I close? Nice ride!
As the saying goes "Everything is big in Texas" and railroad locomotives hold true to that.
I'm going to stop by my Railroad Club this morning, say hi to the guys, have some breakfast and coffee. Looks like a great day for it
Have a great Sunday everyone!
TF
Scrambled eggs with all the fixings and an extra strong coffee in a BNSF Railway mug, please and thanks.
Have a fantastic day all.
Cheers! Rob
Thank you for moving the Diner to Texas, Ulrich
Dallas by Edmund, on Flickr
I visited a train show in the little town of Mount Hope, Ohio. This is in Amish country near some of the old stomping ground of Jerry Jacobsen's Ohio Central Railroad and the Age of Steam Roundhouse.
It was just like the model train shows I remember from years ago. Mom & Pop vendors, reasonable prices and lots of variety in merchandise. Glad I made the two-hour drive
I hope you are all in good health and spirits today.
Regards, Ed
welcome to Texas My home state.
Here is a shot of the UP Desert Strom engine on the point of the Texas Limited ( a short lived passenger operation between Houston and Galveston) We are heading towards Galveston near Texas City.
Two Santa Fe trains meet in Pearland TX ( my home town). Pearland is about 20 miles South of downton Houston on the ATSF (now BNSF) Hosuton Sub.
I'm having trouble finding non copywrited pics of Lubbock, home ofBuddy Holly, place of origination of National Pig Day; which is today March 1st and the Silent Wings Glider Museum.
It is also the only place I've heard a weather forecast calling for Blowing Mud.
Fort Worth and Denver Railway station is now the Buddy Holly Museum
The South Plains and Santa Fe built in 1918 is now the West Texas and Lubbock serving the UP and BNSF
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
In Texas??? Lion is going to Texas (Austin) in September. I'll fly in, but will not rent a car, but rather depend on public transit. It looks quite doable since three of those days will be at the Spiceworks Convention.
BTW: Can anybody tell me what STATE CAPITOL is on the Colorado River???
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BroadwayLion BTW: Can anybody tell me what STATE CAPITOL is on the Colorado River??? ROAR
Austin
Afternoon folks!
Track fiddlerAs the saying goes "Everything is big in Texas"
Yeah, but Alaska is a lot Cooler!!!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Henry, they have a display of the gliders at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special OPS museum, in Fayettevill, NC. Visited it quite often, as after our sn went though BT at Lackland, he was stationed at Pope AFB.
https://www.asomf.org/
The things that the Greatest Generation did....
I see Lion was able to sneak into the old diner....Lions can get into anything!
Good Afternoon,
Texas eh? I've never been there and doubt that I will so this virtual tour will have to suffice.
Last night I ran my Hudson a little and it does run very well. That fellow who worked on it sure knows what he is doing. It does go around my 22" radius curves although I only ran it at a slow speed. It seemed to run fine with no speed drop or signs of binding. I don't think I will try a high speed run as it is likely at its limit.
We are having a heat wave here, likely it will hit 35F today and is supposed to be there most of the week. You never know what March will be like here, sometimes spring, sometimes winter. We've had a very mild winter altogether.
The stockpile of food and supplies started yesterday. The advice from the 'authorities' here is to have supplies to last at least 2 weeks in case of a self quaranteen. We plan on putting in enough for a month. It will force us to do a clean up in the storage area which we need to do anyway.
Think I'll go to the gym today. Sunday is pizza and TV night here. We just get a frozen one and add stuff to it . One brand is actually quite good. Robbie really gets excited when he sees the box come out of the freezer.
Have a good day,
CN Charlie
I have been to Texas three times.
Once in 1981 when I was in High School and living outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we made a school trip to Astroworld in Houston, where I saw Dire Straits perform live.
In 1994 I went to Del Rio briefly to work on a dam rebuilding project.
In 2012 I went to Dallas for a company event in Six Flags Over Texas. I made a comment to a Texan that I was not impressed with their amusement park. He said "Oh, I guess you think you have better amusement parks where you are from?" Well, yeah, I am from Florida. Amusement parks are kind of who we are. That was when I learned all about that Texas attitude.
moelarrycurly4 BroadwayLion BTW: Can anybody tell me what STATE CAPITOL is on the Colorado River??? ROAR Austin
Hey MoeLarryCurly4 and/or Lion (singular or plural as the case may be) --
Yes, it is true that Austin is on a Colorado River, but that river is not the Colorado River. Sorry.
Not all blue berries are blueberries. Even blueberries are not blue berries.
I hope I don't start a range war. I love the Lone Star state.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
I was just perusing through some HO scale items for sale on eBay.
I ran across an Athearn Blue Box #1200 Undecorated Box Car. In the description the seller stated:
This model was manufactured before the DCC control systems was in wide use, but it is not difficult to convert this boxcar for DCC operation if that is what you are using.
I guess that is true.
Well looky' here! I got a post card from MRR about my renewal, the address is in Big Sandy, TX.
As long as we're here, maybe we can hastened the "new" up grades process!
SeeYou190This model was manufactured before the DCC control systems was in wide use, but it is not difficult to convert this boxcar for DCC operation if that is what you are using.
I'll bet that even I could handle that!
SeeYou190This model was manufactured before the DCC control systems was in wide use, but it is not difficult to convert this boxcar for DCC operation if that is what you are using. I guess that is true.
Have no fear Kevin, I've done many of these. If you do buy it, forward it to me, and I will handle the conversion for you..$$$.... OH WAIT! you don't run DCC. Another missed oppertunity!!...
actually it is THE Colorado river, just not THAT Colorado river. Sorry.
Switching in the old MKT Eureaka Yard , Houston TX. UP had taken over by then the MKT line West of Houston was not long for the world due to I-10 widening.
Afternoon all from the land of milk and honey where it is 10c and I might get the grass cut today.
Had a productive day even though I feel like crap, the wife is still sick and I think I had a relapse.
I started off with painting the water tower I have been working on, it is coming along nicely. Then I gutted the trainroom bathroom. It is a fair size having two sinks and a 4' shower. It was time to do it, but I still hate HGTV for brainwashing women into thinking they need new bathrooms every six months. I had the whole thing to the studs in under an hour. We have four BRs and this is #3 I will have done. The master is next and it will be a major redesign and expensive as it is pretty big having an Olympic size tub and large shower along with two sinks and a good amount of cupboard space.
Well, I finished my lunch of my two oranges and 5 celery sticks with Philadelphia cheese so time to take some Dayquill and cut the lawn. Can't get on the bike as I cough my guts out so I am on reduced rations to prevent the goo from setting in.
The Texas heat feels nice to this sicko.
I just tried to follow the Colorado on Google maps. I got to Lamesa, TX. Says it's the source of the Colorado River.
Good afternoon.
Just got home from my Railroad Club this morning and then having lunch with my daughter this afternoon. What a beautiful day, it's 48 degrees in Minnesota.
Tropical Heatwave I'll tell ya T-shirt weather for Northerners and Canadians Eh! Next I'm going to grab a bucket of water and some Windex and go clean and organize all the tools in my truck.
Couldn't ask for a nicer day. Hope ya got one too
Track fiddlerCouldn't ask for a nicer day. Hope ya got one too
You bet I did! 72 degrees, blue skies, paradise.
In a few weeks 9-10 months of hell-weather and then hurricane season begins, and I am not going to get any painting done before then.