Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Jeffrey's Track Side Diner for the month of June. This time we are exploring Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Locked

26201 views
717 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, June 1, 2020 6:59 PM

Hurricane season is the original fake news.  Every year we are supposed to have 6 storms of the century plus another dozen.  Stay tuned at 11 for the latest update.

Top of the page again.  Since Tang wasn't a hit, how about chocolate eclairs, all around.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 64 posts
Posted by drciesel on Monday, June 1, 2020 7:03 PM

Track fiddler

Post-hog

Judy's half sister just called from New Orleans.  The news is hurricane season could start as soon as this Saturday.  Hopefully not.

 

 

TF

 

We know hurricane season always starts June 1st, here in south Louisiana (and elsewhere).  Not a bulletin.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 7:19 PM

Chocolate eclairs, Yes!  Oh for sure Henry.  Cream puffs with that light fluffy pastry even better. 

Either one,  You know when you got a really good one when you have a mess all over your face after you eat one.

After that I always feel fortunate if I'm near a sink and I can just run the water and take my two hands and go blah blah blah and wash all the messy remnants stuck to my face offLaugh

 

Give me another one please!

 

 

DinnerTF

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 8:19 PM

Post-hog

You know I am going to keep my stories to a minimum.

My travel from the Kabetogama State Forest to Orr Minnesota of my high school took an hour and 20 minutes in the morning and an hour and 20 minutes to home.  The drive was 35 minutes in a car but in the school bus and all the stops to pick up and drop off kids was an hour and 20 minutes.

If no one on the bus was playing cards I got my homework done on the bus.  We usually didnt play cards in the morning but sometimes we did.  On the way home from school we always played cards.  Usually Hearts, Jick, Jack, high, low and shoot the Moon.  We played partners, believe me we all had our secret signals.  Sometimes we played Spades.  I never liked Spades so well,  I usually sat out and did my homework.

Thore the bus driver often stopped in the small town of Cusson to talk to the bar owner for a few minutes.  We always liked it because we could get off the bus and have a cigarette.  Thore didn't care.

I do remember one time the cusson bar owner showed Thore a railroad lantern that had DWP on it.  I remember listening to the story.  The bar owner told Thore almost every night when he heard the train he would go out and wave just before bar close.

One day the morning DWP engineer stopped the train when he saw the bar owner and walked across the highway and handed him the railroad lamp and said the night engineer wanted to give this to you.

What's ironic about this story is I've seen it happen more than once later when I lived in Prior Lake.

Later on when Thore stopped the bus to talk to the cusson bar owner,  I heard him tell Thore he waved the railroad Lantern when the night engineer went by.  And he said the night engineer blew the horn at him and waved.

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, June 1, 2020 8:45 PM

Track fiddler
You chain saw a rectangle in the ice in the middle of your ice house.  The illumination of the Sun going through the ice into your dark ice house.

Thats the way the sturgeon spearing works, on Lake Winnebago, WI.  I've never done it.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 9:18 PM

mbinsewi

Thats the way the sturgeon spearing works, on Lake Winnebago, WI.  I've never done it.

 

 

If you have it in your means.  If you have friends that participate in the sport that you can meet up with.

I would highly recommend it as the adrenaline rush is so, ... I can't even describe when that great big fish appears in the rectangle.  It's a jolt!  You do have to go experience itYes

 

Fish are curious and so am I.  What I can't believe is when you miss they do come back!  They can't see you!

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, June 1, 2020 9:36 PM

Good evening .... 

Dave ..... A huge THANK YOU  for starting the June Diner !  

Henry ... Thank you for the chocolate eclair. Yummy! 

Ken ..... I saw your post about your broken rib and having pneumonia. That must be awful Coughing must hurt. Prayers for you.  

There is much to talk about regarding MN, ND, and SD. 

I see you are already talking about Duluth, DM&IR, and DW&P. There is a lot of train action in the Twin Cities, of course. Looking at northwest ND, we can talk about crude oil trains originating there and also the border connection with Soo Line and Canadian Pacific.  In southwest SD, there is the Badlands, Rapid CIty, Mt. Rushmore, ....... and of course, the Deadwood Branch of the CB&Q ! 

In my younger days, I rode on the Burlington Twin Cities Zephyr and the Milwaukee Road Hiawtha beween Chicago, IL and St Paul, MN . (I grew up near Chicago) . 

Burlington's passenger trains between Chicago and the Twin Cities were the Zephyrs, the overnight Blackhawk, GN Empire Builder, GN Western Star, NP North Coast Limited, and NP Mainstreeter. ... The Western Star amd the Maintreeter were combined with the Blackhawk. .... Sometimes, the Empire Builder and/or the North Coast LImited were combined with the Twin Cities Zephyr..... There were two Twin Cities Zephyrs in each direction every day. 

Here is a picture of the Twin Cities Zephyr. It had dome cars, and it had a schedule with 90 mph runnning. 

 

Other info ..... On June 1, 1793, Kentucky became the 15th State of the Union. Happy 228th birthday, Kentucky ! 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:02 PM

The Burlington Route Silver Streak Garry.

I have one of those parked in my cart for $169 on eBay free shipping. 

The locomotive and all the passenger cars in a set brand new.  It's breaking my heart I'm not spending money right now.

I have come so close to pushing the PayPal buttonTongue Tied

 

Push the butt! ... SadTongue TiedIndifferent

 

 

WhistlingLaughTF

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:25 PM

Track fiddler

The Burlington Route Silver Streak Garry.

I have one of those parked in my cart for $169 on eBay free shipping. 

The locomotive and all the passenger cars in a set brand new.  It's breaking my heart I'm not spending money right now.

I have come so close to pushing the PayPal buttonTongue Tied

 

Push the butt! ... SadTongue TiedIndifferent

 

 

WhistlingLaughTF

 

 

TF ..... I won't tell if you use some of your $1200 check from Uncle Sam to buy it. If I recall correctly, the Silver Streak Zephyr ran between Kansas City and Omaha. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • 2,123 posts
Posted by CNCharlie on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:30 PM

Good Evening,

Go ahead TF, press that button! If your wife asks, just say the devil made me do it. 

Mr. B, good guess on the Swedish cars for ice racing but it would have been Saabs as Volvo didn't have a front drive car until 1992. 

Well it did hit 32C which is about 88F here today. 

Not a good day as my wife isn't feeling well and I'll just leave it at that. 

Nothing on the agenda this week except maybe a little yard work. We have a lot of flowers to plant but that is what my wife usually does. I may have to do it but I'm sure it won't be done right. 

Think I'll go back downstairs and watch TV a little longer. I seem to spend most of my time down there lately. 

CN Charlie

 

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:31 PM

LaughLaughLaugh

Dang Garry,  Now I don't know if I have the right one in my cart!  You may want to clarify things if you haven't alreadyLaugh

 

P.S.  Honda's had front wheel drive in the late 70s early 80s and I got to drive one of those puppies cross the frozen lake and they were really something else.

 

I'm waiting for Garry but I think I'm going to push the buttonLaugh  It's Only MoneyWhistling

 

Funny you mention that Charlie.  The devil made me do it has not ever worked for me before but it could this timeLaugh

 

It's always worth a shot!

 

 

PirateTF

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:48 PM

TF .... Just push the button .... You will love the train... I wish they made it in HO. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 11:00 PM

OK, ... Um ... Well.

OK,  I think I got it.

PayPal.

God they add tax now?

 

OK  I got the Burlington Silver Streak Set.

 

 

Thanks  TF .......Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, June 1, 2020 11:10 PM

I spent the entire day taping off things on the garage wall getting ready for some paint. I also put protective cardboard on the floor over the new tile.

What tedious work!

-Kevin

 

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 11:26 PM

I pushed the button

As directed from you my friends

The Burlington Silver Streak they say will be to me in 3 days

I don't believe that for a minute,  I will try two weeksWhistlingLaugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, June 1, 2020 11:37 PM

Post-hog

You're the one that made me decide Garry.

Burlington's Silver Streak is on Its way.

I got to tell you it's been a long time since I purchase something from eBay.

I don't regret it for a moment!

Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor were on this trainLaugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 12:06 AM

Track fiddler
Burlington's Silver Streak is on Its way.

Nice score TF!

Dave

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

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:21 AM

Here are some pictures of the ore loading docks in Duluth. The first shows the all timber docks circa 1898:

This is circa 1915. The docks have been radically expanded to handle the higher volumes

:

The ore docks in 2013:

Here is a video of a lake boat being loaded at Duluth:

More to come!

Dave

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

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
  • 2,508 posts
Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 5:15 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
One June 1, 1793, Kentucky became the 15th State of the Union. Happy 228th birthday, Kentucky !

And that was the day Kentucky fried chicken was invented! It just so happened that the people of Kentucky celebrated the statehood with bonfires and fireworks. One of the rockets fell into a chicken coop - the rest is history!

Nice catch - TF!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 6:34 AM

Wow, a Kato! Nice score TF. Yes  Now your going to have to show us a video of it running on your layout.

Nice video Dave of the ship loading.  Talk about everything massive!

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 6:44 AM

Good Morning All,

   Mid 40's and sunny today. No complaints from me.

   Still working on the access road and lot for Sperry along with the drainage ditch I put in between it and the corner building. Trying not to spend hours detailing a ditch no one will be able to see but I'm failing. Trying realistic water in the bottom - we'll see if that works better than the two part epoxy I used before. If it does i will try it over some of the other water I put down because I don't think it ever really dried properly.

Nice job masking everything off Kevin. Tedious yes but when you've paid attention to detail as you have done the result should be great.

Those ore docks and the ships are impressive. Are they still in regular use? I know the ones in upstate New York are mostly abandoned.  

   Another busy day lined up for the shop. I'll catch y'all later.  Ciao, J.R.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 6:55 AM

Good morning.

Thanks for the CN Ore Dock photos Dave.

We went under them about 3-4 years ago.  They had a spot in the parking lot for tourists to read information.  We talked to some railroad workers returning to work.

 

P.S.   Thanks for the congrats on my Silver Streak purchase Garry, Dave, Mike, UlrichSmile, Wink & Grin and have a great day everyone.

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 9:30 AM

Good morning .... 

CN went on binge of buying US railroads several years ago, and they acquired DM&IR along with Wisconsin Central and Illinois Central. CN has owned DW&P for several decades, and it was a bridge railroad connecting with CN at the border and with US railrads in Duluth. 

When I was with the railroad, CN owned Grand Trunk Corporation which owned DW&P, Grand Trunk Western, and Central Vermont. DW&P was very profitable and it offset losses of the other two railroads. DW&P served no on line industries, and all of its revenue was from traffic to and from Canada. 

In the 1970's, an interstate highway was being built through Duluth, and DW&P facilities were moved to a location in Wisconsin very near Duluth. The new location was (if I can remember the spelling) Pokegama. They built a small classification yard, a modern locomotive shop, and offices. I had business trips to Duluth in the 1980's and saw the new facilities.  

I recall a three-way power swap of the three GTC railroads.  GTW SD40's became DW&P units. DW&P RS11's became CV units. CV GP9's became GTW units. This was done mostly because the SD40's were needed to run-through into Canada on the CN which also used SD40's for this service. 

 

Ulrich ....LOL ... I think 228 years ago, the early settlers ate squirrels and rabbits more than chicken. However, Col. Sanders probably thought it would be easier to sell chicken in a chain of fast food restaurants. Smile

 

Everybody .... Have a good Tuesday. 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 9:39 AM

OK, you guys!  Now ya did it!!!

All the talk about Iron Ore brought back memories of my teaching days..... Smile, Wink & Grin  When I was teaching Elementary Vocal Music, about 5th. grade many of the boys would start to go through that "Mr. Macho" stage (which was laughingly funny actually) and so would be convinced that only sissies sang.  So...  That meant it was time to pull out a large, thick book of Folk songs I had from around the world.  The songs I would pull out for the end of class (if they behaved) were often Chanties!  One of the ones that could convince them that singing was not only not sissy stuff but very "manly" was  The Cruise of the Bigaler A chanty of the Great lakes ore haulers.  The Bigaler had the distinction of being the slowest old tub on the lakes.  But, they still had one of the finest crews out there and a great Chantyman to lead them.

Took me a while, but I finally found it recorded on line: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=3622790

Go have a listen and when the refrain comes in sing (as loud as you can) with them:

"Watch her, (stomp!) catch Her, (stomp!)  Jump up in her Juberju. Give her sheet and let 'er go; We're the lads can bring her through.  Oh don't you hear the howling of the winds a'blowin' free, on our down trip to Buffalo, from Milwaukee!"

Frankly, I did it better than the group on the recording.  Had the guys singing so loud , I more than once was visited by the principal after some other teachers called the office to say that something is wrong down the hall, lots of yelling and stomping going on!!!  When the principal came in the room he usually joined in with the class, but then told me to please shut the door when I sang stuff like this!!!  Other music teachers couldn't figure out why I was the chorus teacher around that had almost 50% boys in the elementary chorus...  Oh, we got sing stuff like that when the class was good and we got through all the "traditional" stuff we needed to get covered... Cool

Have a good one and stay safe out there!

73

Ah.....  Those were the days!

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 10:01 AM

GMTRacing
Nice job masking everything off Kevin. Tedious yes but when you've paid attention to detail as you have done the result should be great.

That is a very hard thing to get people to learn about painting. If you want a good result, 90% of the time spent on the job will be prep work and cleanup, and only 10% actually spent putting paint on the surface.

The same is almost true with model railroad painting projects.

howmus
I was teaching Elementary Vocal Music, about 5th. grade many of the boys would start to go through that "Mr. Macho" stage

Bless you. I cannot imagine dealing with boys from 5th through 10th grade.

I am so glad I had girls.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 11:39 AM

SeeYou190
Bless you. I cannot imagine dealing with boys from 5th through 10th grade.

Actually.....  No worse than dealing with girls in 7th. and 8th. Grade...  LOL!!!

I taught, at one time or another, k through 12 and some college level stuff too.  Every age poses it's difficulties....Smile, Wink & GrinWhistlingLaugh

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 11:46 AM

mbinsewi
Didn't the DM&IR get them from the NP? or is it the other way around?

DM&IR bought them directly from Baldwin in the 1940s. Northern Pacific was the first railroad to have 2-8-8-4s, in the early 1930's, and named them after the Yellowstone River. They also coined the name Northerns, after Northern Pacific, for the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.

Duluth Missabe & Iron Range resulted from the merger of the Duluth & Iron Range and the Duluth Missabe & Northern. Eventually DMIR and DWP were bought by CN. Since DMIR and DWP had single-track mainlines fairly close to each other, CN uses them as essentially a double-track mainline.

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 12:58 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Col. Sanders probably thought it would be easier to sell chicken in a chain of fast food restaurants. 

The history channel recently ran a series on the food that made America or some such title.  Colonel Sanders invented his recipe and was selling it from his gas station as a way to supplement income during the great depression.  To speed up the process, he actually invented pressure cooking.  The chicken was such a hit that he ended up buying an out of business local restaurant, selling the gas station, and had a sit down fried chicken restaurant.  When the interstate was put through all the traffic by his restaurant dried up, taking his sales with it.  He was nearly bankrupt when a small group of investors approached him about their desire to buy his recipe and sell the chicken like the new-fangled fast food style of restaurant.  They also wanted to keep him on as spokesperson.  He agreed.  They are the reason we have Kentucky Fried Chicken today.

Mike

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:02 PM

Oh, and he wasn't in the military.  Colonel was an honorary title given to him by, I believe, the governor after tasting his chicken. 

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
  • 2,508 posts
Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:29 PM

Water Level Route
To speed up the process, he actually invented pressure cooking.

The idea of pressure cooking goes back to the year of 1679, when a Frenchman named denis Papin invented the first pressure cooker. In the 1930s, pressure cookers became available commercially, intended to shorten the time for cooking vegetables. Sanders tried to cook a chicken in it, cutting down the time in the frying pan.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!