Good Morning!
Ed, here is a short video from the same tour!
... antr this is the way it looks when a real storm hits the tracks at Dawlish on the Devon coast!
Scary!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Tinplate ToddlerEd, here is a short video from the same tour!
Steam at speed Yes!
Tinplate Toddler... antr this is the way it looksm when a real storm hits the tracks at Dawlish on the Devon coast!
Nothing like the power of nature. Sometimes we have winds blowing across Lake Erie producing some wash like that. It can be treacherous in January!
Wonderful! Thank you, Ulrich —
Ed
Evening all
Had a busy day. First did 20 km on the bike in 40 min 23 sec.. Then went out and played basketball with the kid for two hours and I whooped his butt. He has a lot on his plate right now, so it is no surprise. I then got a ton of work done on the trainroom bathroom and I am really happy about that. I feel so good and in such good shape, it is an on top of the world kind of feeling.
When this Covid19 thing took over both our kids Universities shut down and we had the kids home fast. The kid was on a flight the next day from Ottawa and I went and got my Daughter from UVic not long after that.
They both finished out the year online. The kid had lots of movie work lined up fast but that industry shut down as well.
Today the kid brought me home a bottle of 18 year Scotch, gave me a big hug and thanked me for everything I had done for him. It's a good day.
When the kid was in Ottawa he started writing for the OHL hockey network, reporting on the Ottawa 67s. When he bugged out of Ottawa due to the Corona virus, the biggest sports media conglomerate in Canada asked hin to come work for them and after three weeks of working for them reporting on the junior ranks, and getting a huge following he is now writing about the Vancouver Canucks.
There was a think tank at his University early on to advise the Federal Government on fiscal policy and how to proceed through this crises. He would be up and on the computer in his bedroom at 0500hrs for the online meeting which was 0800hrs Ottawa time. He was told to just sit and listen as he was an undergrad but they wanted his input after the Feds had left the meeting. Long story short, he is now, along with his Professor, not only advising the Feds but meeting online with UN officials on a regular basis that are working on the global response to the covid19 crisis.
It gets better. A major corporation head hunted him and because of all the volunteer work he has done for disabled sports (sledge hockey for the disabled and wounded warriors) and working with troubled youth by introducing them to sports. They hired him on the spot at his first interview to rewrite their policy manual on dealing with the disabled and multicultural segments of society. They offered him a $150,000.00 a year. He made arrangements to work part time once he returns to University and will take an extra semester to get his degree. He is 21 years old holding down three jobs and in a good place right now.
My Daughter has 240,000 followers on an online fan fiction site where she writes original stories or ongoing chapters to things like Harry Potter or other literature aimed at youth. She has caught the eye of a few publishers that want to publish her work.
Life is good for this old man.
The only bad thing going on is my old dog is on his last legs to the point where he was unconcious last night for a couple of hours. Wife says he has had a series of strokes. He is still smiling away, but the clock is ticking.
Now, where is that Scotch?
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Hi Brent,
You have every right to feel good! Your kids are amazing!
Sorry about your dog. Dianne's step niece just lost her Golden Retriever. He was one of the nicest, friendliest dogs I have ever met. We still miss our buddy Jake who was a sheppard/whatever cross. It's been 15 years.
Enjoy the scotch!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks Dave, When you first have kids you worry about if you are up to the task and will they turn out OK. I could not be more proud of both my kids and I am breathing a sigh of relief knowing everything worked out, better than I expected actually.
We have a few sayings in my country concerning kids, the first one being "little kids - plenty of little worries" and the second one goes like this "parents will do everything to bring their kids up, and when they have done that successfully, the kids will do everthing to get their parents down". The latter is not always true - at least not in my case.
BATMANWhen you first have kids you worry about if you are up to the task and will they turn out OK. I could not be more proud of both my kids and I am breathing a sigh of relief knowing everything worked out, better than I expected actually.
I'm not too jealous of your son's multiple accomplishments. Our son Cole owned his first home at 26, and it is a very nice home IMHO. That was the same year he made the Ontario Sunshine List which shows all the civil servants in the province who made six figures.
When you say that your kids turned out better than you expected, we can relate to that. When Cole was in his mid teens he got into drug use and the impact on him and us was frightening! He was "only smoking dope" but whatever that crap was laced with caused him huge psychological problems. We were in counselling for months, which he rejected because some of the doctors were absolute idiots. Fortunately he figured out things on his own, got rid of his dope pushing 'friends', and has been great ever since. Now he has a beautiful wife, a beautiful home and a solid career.
Tinplate ToddlerWe are in Britain, the cradle of railroading and here is a hommage to British steam - in a full feature length, so get your favourite drink, sit back and enjoy!
Hi Ulrich,
The video is great! I've only watched the first half so far but it is very informative and entertaining.
Thanks!
My shredder died with a horrible screeching noise. I've never liked it. Everytime I empty the bin, I have to pick pieces of paper out that are jammed in the between all the blades. Of course I found a bunch of stuff to be shredded this morning.
Then I went to print something and this weeks Microsoft upgrade, which wants me to use Edge, hijacked my printer and wants me to use One Note to print.
My mother's brother and his wife and kid lived with us for a while, worked for my dad. They had a falling out with us for reasons I will never understand. I tried to get in touch with my cousin via facebook. Apparently he still won't talk to me, but his ex-wife seems quite nice and his son is in the Air Force.
I sent him some old family pictures and told him things he didn't know, like his other uncle was in the Air Force in Burma, during the war. He is training for a SWAT team and sent me this picture.
Better him than me.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
SeeYou190 GMTRacing Yes Kevin one and the same Paddy Macs. My other favorite restaurant in the area is Shipwreck Bar And Grill in Jupiter on US-1. One night a week, I think Wednesday, they have 2 pounds of crab claws for $35.00, and it is great to go with 8-10 people and just feast away. It is just 2 or 3 exits up on I-95 from Palm Beach Gardens. drgwcs Does your route take you through the Hampton Roads area down the east coast. There are a couple of shops in VA beach. I will not hit the Atlantic Coast until Jeckyl Island, Georgia. Tomorrow I am driving to Spencer, North Carolina to visit the Little Choo Choo shop and the Transportation Museum. Tomorrow should be a good day. Heartland Division CB&Q I hope everybody has a good 4th of July You too Garry. Be safe. -Kevin
GMTRacing Yes Kevin one and the same Paddy Macs.
My other favorite restaurant in the area is Shipwreck Bar And Grill in Jupiter on US-1. One night a week, I think Wednesday, they have 2 pounds of crab claws for $35.00, and it is great to go with 8-10 people and just feast away.
It is just 2 or 3 exits up on I-95 from Palm Beach Gardens.
drgwcs Does your route take you through the Hampton Roads area down the east coast. There are a couple of shops in VA beach.
I will not hit the Atlantic Coast until Jeckyl Island, Georgia.
Tomorrow I am driving to Spencer, North Carolina to visit the Little Choo Choo shop and the Transportation Museum.
Tomorrow should be a good day.
Heartland Division CB&Q I hope everybody has a good 4th of July
You too Garry. Be safe.
-Kevin
Little Choo Choo is still closed sorry I didn't catch this post last night- the transportation museum is open to some extent. I am not sure when Little Choo Choo will reopen they are being very cryptic on their facebook page. There is another shop in downtown Landis just a little south that Chucks Trains- small shop but packed full. I am not sure if they are open today- can't tell from website. There is an antique mall that has trains in Mooresville NC http://www.burkesvintagetraindepot.com/ and a Lindy's outside of Charlotte in the Catawba Antique mall in Belmont
Good Afternoon!
I could sure use some coffee to keep my eyes open. It´s humid and the air is so thick I could cut it in slices!
I continue to be narrow (gauge) minded in our field trip to Britain this month. Today we hop over the border to Wales and visit the Brecon Mountains with their quite unusual railway, which should look familiar to you guys!
Enjoy!
Edit: Shoul you be bored or have nothing else to do and want to kill 100 minutes? Then watch this 1992 British comedy!
Ulrich, when I see that movie, I can't get past the star, Whatley. In my mind, he is Detective Lewis in the the best crime series ever -- Morse.
It's too bad that reruns of Inspector Morse are not on normal TV. I know you can subscribe to channels that carry it, but I don't want to pay the extra fee.
That detective series was the best -- on American or English TV.
Since we're in the UK, and my mind is on TV, how about "The Avengers"? The years with Emma Peel were the best for me. That's another program I have not seen in years.
"The Prisoner". Another UK export that was a great TV program. It wasn't just fluff TV.
York1 John
Good Morning,
Going to be another hot one here today. Expecting another day with a humidex of 100F.
As it is still morning, I'd like breakfast please Chloe. As we are in England, I'd like scrambled eggs and kippers with grilled tomato and mushrooms too. I like kippers but my wife won't let me cook them in the house saying that they stink up the place. They're great on toast with melted cheddar on top. Haven't had that for years.
Well my brass engine arrived. It is a model of #2851 that hauled the press train in advance of the Royal train in 1939. The model turned out to be made by SR and not Samhongsa so it is truly the last run imported by Van Hobbies in 1998. I guess that is how it was 'new in the box'. Anyway the detail is truly amazing right down to the tiny red valves in the cab. It runs well too and likely will improve a lot once broken in. The finish on painted brass is different than on plastic. It is subtle but there is a difference. Even my wife can tell. Certainly is when you handle it. The piping and appliance castings are some how a little sharper than plastic castings. Not that I'll be buying another engine like this one. I still would like to find a J4e Pacific. They aren't hugely expensive as they were produced in the mid '70s.
We are still busy doing gardening and have planted most everything. Well my wife has. I just fetch and carry.
We are watching a great TV series called Bodyguard on the computer. We recorded it on the PVR but the version on TV is edited and has commercials. It was done in Britain last year. One of the highest rated shows in Britain.
I'm enjoying the videos posted on railways in Britain. One of my desired travel destinations is to do an extended trip there to see heritage railways and visit the pub my great aunt and uncle owned near Oxford. My Dad used to stay there when he was on leave during the war. There is a website for 'The Fishes'. Way things are now, who knows if I will ever do a holiday involving flying again. We also want to go back to Paris.
Well keep cool,
CN Charlie
John, our biggest source of Brit TV is PBS.
Another great series is Foyle's War. It ran on PBS for 8 seasons. It is about a detective during the war. We bought all the DVDs.
I agree, the Avengers with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel was great. When it was on TV back in the '60s I usually watched it with all the interest of a fevered teenager. That leather jumpsuit, oh never mind.
The Avengers ran on German TV in the late 1960 - fully dubbed in German! We always translate the movies shown on German. Did you know that John Wayne spoke German without trace of an accent?
My favorite Brit TV series were `Allo, `allo" and "Open All Hours!, and not to forget John Cleese in "Fawlyty Towers". In the years I spent in Britain I learned to love that black sense of humor so typical for British people!
I forgot about Fawlty Towers! That was a great one.
My wife did subscribe to Acorn TV. They carry a lot of British TV shows. Unfortunately, not Morse.
How about "Keeping Up Appearances"? My family loved that show because Hyacinth remined us of a relative we had.
I am rivaling TF now in being a post hog!
I just cked the Lego website - the Crocodile set is already sold out, only 3 days after it was released! There are a number of listings in Ebay, for up to double the price I paid for it! I am just glad I ordered it on July 1st!
I know this is a model RR forum but this is a sad day for me.
So many memories.
Hi everyone. Ladies could I have my usual Friday (and Saturday) evening drink please. A bottle of Pilsner Urquell, brewed in Plzen, Czech.
I've been reading thru all of the posts. Whilst you are in the UK, please do not forget the great little trains of Wales. Here are just a few. Hear those exhaust beats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7yJREB-L9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAUxDAZF4Lg
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Good Afternoon —
It is beginning to warm up a bit here in NE Ohio. I really don't mind it so much. There's a nice breeze at least.
Has anyone seen a Barracuda adrift somewhere in the Atlantic with Ken in it? Haven't heard from CudaKen since the Diner move?
Thanks for that side trip to Wales, Paul
How about a pop up to Scotland?
I wonder how I'd look in a kilt? (OK, don't have to answer that)
If anyone would like to make a reservation...
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/scotland/belmond-royal-scotsman/
I hope everyone is doing well this weekend,
Cheers, Ed
I'm sure this'll have been posted before but here's Tornado hitting 100mph a few years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAGutU3BL_U
drgwcsLittle Choo Choo is still closed sorry I didn't catch this post last night-
Thank you for the great information. I just arrived in Spencer. Will go to the Transportation Museum in the morning. I really appreciate the information on Chuck's Trains and the antique malls.
Living the dream.
Happy Birthday, America!
I'll second Ulrich's post!
to all of our friends in the USA!!!
Edit:
Top of the page so the Birthday Cake is on me! Lots of icing and ice cream too please! (That is the only reason to eat cake isn't it?).
Dave - it´s a little bit too early for me to enjoy a slice of that birthday cake. Mind, if a save a slice for a little later?
Today´s program takes us following the tracks and traces of lost railways in Britain.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I came across an interesting discovery today when I was reading through the Model Railroader Newsletter from July 2nd. Bowser is offering drive systems to fit the Varney Aerotrain locomotive shells and chassis for the coaches! I have two Varney Aerotrain locomotives but only one older motored chassis, so I seized on the opportunity to buy a modern spec DC chassis which can be easily converted to DCC.
The new coach chassis are an easy solution to the totally absent floors in the original coaches, but I passed on them because I think they could be scratchbuilt easily. I had already replaced the original plastic wheel sets with metal sets from NWSL. The NSWL wheel sets required a wee bit of trimming of the axle mounts but they work great.
The Aerotrains used a pretty much standard EMD 567 12 cylinder engines so sound will be easy to install.
Thanks to all the good folks, friends and neighbors in wishing the USA a happy Independence Day!
C&NW Station 24 August, 1996 by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Morning All,
A regular and a blueberry donut please Chloe. Oh what the heck, how about a stack of blueberry pancakes instead with a side of link sausage. It is virtual after all.
Thanks to our friends for the Independence Day wishes. Yes Bear, we could use a little cheer just now.
Finished up the backdrop last night and started cleaning. Next up will be more turntable repair and then remounting the control panel for the layout so it is more easily opened. Once that is done and the tracked cleaned it will be on to rolling stock starting with the immobile C-Liner and then the 2-8-0.
Same photo as in WPF but for those of you who don't surf, this is the backround through the yard.
yard view by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Hope those recovering are doing better. We take Bristol the mutt to the vets Weds next for a second opinion on her left hind quarter. She is still limping pretty badly. Well that brekkie was good - off to the shop and the trailers again.
Ciao, J.R.
Good morning
Thanks for starting the Diner Ed.
Happy 4th to everyone. Thanks for our Countries Happy Birthday wishes from our neighboring Country Friends
We just got back from the hotel spending quality time with Family in town after saying good bye to Kelly Tuesday. It was great to see everyone and miss them already.
Ulrich, Thanks for taking over PH while I was gone. Somebody's gotta do it
Have a fun wonderful 4th everyone and be safe
TF