The Diner has been uprooted from the previous New Mexico location and made the 1,565 mile journey up North to the Beautiful state of Michigan. This month should be very interesting as we learn about the history and railroads of our 26th State.
Let's take a closer look...
Michigan became a state in 1837.
Michigan is the largest State East of the Mississippi.
Michigan has 3,225 miles of coastline, and the most freshwater coastline of any state.
More than 10,000,000 people live in Michigan.
Living the dream.
I am sure you all noticed the new sign for the diner.
My middle daughter, the one that is a Software Engineer in Seattle, made that for us. She whipped it up in less than 30 minutes and delivered it to me just in time for the opening of the diner in our new location.
I made it my background on my computer. She made it the right size to do that if anyone else wants to.
-Kevin
Resounding Applause for you, Kevin!
Gives the joint — a touch of class!
Heartland Division CB&QI suggested Michigan for cider and donuts, an October tradition in MI.
Jane-Parker_Donuts by Edmund, on Flickr
Jane Parker A & P Donuts Dig in Folks!
Thanks for your efforts and a big thank you to your daughter —
Cheers, Ed
"I am sure you all noticed the new sign for the diner."
Kool Bananas!!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good job, thank you----!
herrinchoker
SeeYou190 Michigan has 3,225 miles of coastline, and the most freshwater coastline of any state.
Sorry Kevin, but That State up North does not have the most freshwater coastline of any state, Alaska with 3,000,000 lakes has an estimated shoreline of 2,100,000 miles.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
gmpullmanJane Parker A & P Donuts Dinner Dig in Folks!
I havent had A&P donuts since I can't remember when. Maybe it was around the time the last A&P store closed.... You Think.
Actually not. I looked up A&P and they were around a lot longer than I thunk... so figure my last foray into an A&P store must have been in the 70s.
Oh well, I know where to get the worlds best donuts.
RO)AR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning everyone.
Flo, please bring me a four-slice stack of whole wheat toast and some apple marmalade. Also, my usual cup of black coffee.
Another night of sleeping like an innocent baby and waking up feeling great. I am on a roll lately.
Hope everyone is fine. I am going to finish the grout om the bathroom tile today.
dti406Sorry Kevin, but That State up North does not have the most freshwater coastline of any state, Alaska with 3,000,000 lakes has an estimated shoreline of 2,100,000 miles.
That is interesting. I was using the information in my National Geographic Atlas Of The World. I am not sure what criteria the editors used for determining which coastlines should be included in the data.
BroadwayLionOh well, I know where to get the worlds best donuts.
The Hole-In-One donut shop in Lakeland, Florida?
How about a Very Vintage look at the Detroit River Tunnels on the Detroit side?
Detroit_Tunnels by Edmund, on Flickr
There's evidence of retouching, apparently removing a power line, across the lower portion of the photo. Photoshop v.1?
Good morning ...
I already have been to a docfor appointment this morning . Now I'm sitting in a waiting room while my truck is being serviced.
Kevin... You certainly did an outstanding job moving the Diner. Thank you.
i lived in Michigan many years.
Ed ... Thanks for the A&P goodies.
Actually , I was not thinking of A&P. Search the internet for "Michigan cider mills", and you will find many examples.
Families go to the cider mills for cider and donuts. While there, kids might enjoy a hayride or other activities. As they leave, families can take home jugs of cider, donuts, caramel apples, and other scrumptious goodies.
I'll be back later.
Cheers.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Little Lakes don't count. Shore lines go on for miles and miles and miles.
You know... Like a sea shore. They are found along bodies of water over which you can not see the opposite shore.
You can have a lake shore... but a shore line is soemthing altogether different.
This ROAR is on me!
I'll post more info as I get time, but Michigan is home to the last operating railroad car ferry on Lake Michigan (S.S. Badger). Currently running as a passenger vessel, it is the only coal fired steamship operating in the U.S.
Also, Michigan was home to Ephraim Shay, inventor of the Shay type locomotive, the most widely used geared type locomotive.
Michigan also has more lighthouses than any other state, the largest Christmas store in the world, home to "Beer City, USA", and most importantly the largest football stadium in the world.
Cheers fellas!
Mike
Mike: Thank you for the information about Michigan. I have only been there once, and know nearly nothing about the state.
I look forward to learning more from a resident.
SeeYou190 Mike: Thank you for the information about Michigan. I have only been there once, and know nearly nothing about the state. I look forward to learning more from a resident. -Kevin
I'm not a resident, but my In-laws had a hunting cabin way up near Petosky. Beutiful area.
There is a ritual/festival where, I believe its Labor Day weekend, the state closes the Mackinac (Mackinaw) Bridge for herds of pedestrians to walk across. I assume it was canceled this year because of Covid.
The Mackinac Bridge is the bridge that connects the Lower Peninsula with the "U.P. " (upper peninsula, not Union Pacific).
I take a bit of an interest in landscapes, and the lower part of the lower peninsula looks a lot like any midwestern state...Indiana...Ohio...but as you travel north the climate zone changes to a colder band around Cadillac, MI, and there is a noticeable difference in the types of trees and shrubs and overall look to the natural landscape. And the sun seems dimmer because its at a lower angle, being so far North.
And being a fan of modern shortlines, here is a link to a fairly popular railroad contained in the State.
https://www.lsrc.com/
And photos of its predecessor, the Detroit and Mackinac
http://www.railroadmichigan.com/detroitmackinac.html
- Douglas
Hi to everyone and it's nice to be here.
Like Kevin, I too have a Q which has always bugged me a bit - how come 'Michigan City' is in Indiana (home of the Fabulous Chicago South Shore Inter-Urban & Freight) and not in the State of Michigan itself? Always wondered mind, regards Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Thanks for a great opening, Kevin. Be sure to tell your daughter how great the new sign is and that we all thank her for it.
It's 1:40 p.m. CDT. Grass cut, bank visited, gas station visited, grocery store finished, etc.
Now naptime!
York1 John
More on the Detroit Michigan Central Railway tunnels and their enlargement in the 1990s:
Construction was an engineering marvel in its day. Digging a trench in the reverbed and sinking premade "tube" sections, "bolting" them together and covering the trench. A fascinating operation.
Read about it here:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-detroit-river-tunnel-1907-12-21/
Lazershow come 'Michigan City' is in Indiana (home of the Fabulous Chicago South Shore Inter-Urban & Freight) and not in the State of Michigan itself? Always wondered mind, regards Paul
Michigan City, Indiana, borders the Great Lake known as Lake Michigan. The word "Michigan" is believed to come from the Ojibwe word michi-gami meaning "great water".
gmpullmanLazers how come 'Michigan City' is in Indiana (home of the Fabulous Chicago South Shore Inter-Urban & Freight) and not in the State of Michigan itself? Always wondered mind, regards Paul Michigan City, Indiana, borders the Great Lake known as Lake Michigan. The word "Michigan" is believed to come from the Ojibwe word michi-gami meaning "great water". Cheers, Ed
Hi Ed, thank you. I know when I see vids of the S'Shore, the extremes of the weather amaze me. Whilst it is seasonal, in Summer beautiful Beverly Shores is like a Tropical Beach but in Winter when snow is coming off the Lake and the little Lighthouses and the Piers are all iced-up - it seems like Antarctica!
I know we are in Michigan, but it's just around the corner - so the same must apply to the Coast of Michigan? I love the coast line there and the Famous Lighthouses. As the tourist info says - they are Well Worth a Visit. Paul
Wow, there is a well put together video on the LSRC website.
https://www.lsrc.com/about/
LazersI know we are in Michigan, but it's just around the corner - so the same must apply to the Coast of Michigan?
Aah, but when the weather be fair —
CSSnSB_Dunes2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Tonight is a special 2 hour episode of Big Brother where three people are going to be evicted from the house. I really hope this shakes things up, because so far this has been the most incredibly boring season of Big Brother ever.
This is the first television show epsiode I have looked forward to in quite a while.
Doughless Wow, there is a well put together video on the LSRC website. https://www.lsrc.com/about/
That's a very interesting video of Lake State Railway, and how railroads can be successful by working with customers.
SeeYou190 Tonight is a special 2 hour episode of Big Brother where three people are going to be evicted from the house. I really hope this shakes things up, because so far this has been the most incredibly boring season of Big Brother ever. This is the first television show epsiode I have looked forward to in quite a while. -Kevin
Post Hog! Post Hog!
Ed, that is a neat video of the tunnel work at Detroit and Windsor. There's a lot of information I've never heard in these videos.
York1 I've never seen that show. Maybe I'll have to tune in tonight.
I am a total sucker for competition/reality shows. Watching people be mean to each other for $500,000.00 makes for good television (sometimes).
Hey Ed, Thanks for the Poster and the vid. The commentry prompted me to dig-out my Gordon Lightfoot greatest CD. I've been a fan of his since the early 70's when he first became known in the UK. All his songs including, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", are still popular in British Folk-club scene. Paul
So every year ( except this year) there has been a huge antique radio fest in Michigan. So I started going about 2010 or so. It was in Lansing. I love camping so there is a campground not too far from where the festival was. I had just gotten used to where all the good antique and thrift stores were in Lansing and they moved the fest to Kalamazoo. So i found a state park there, found all the thrift stores and antique shops and good eats and such. Then they moved it this year over towards Detroit, but it did not happen because of current conditions. I really like the areas I have visited in MI, I really like the Lansing Area. I was going to get to explore new area this year but noooo.
York1Ed, that is a neat video of the tunnel work at Detroit and Windsor.
I agree. Many tunnels in North America have been "enlarged" mostly by removing a second track and lowering a central track where the roadbed could be excavated. In the case of the Detroit tunnel, of course, they had to scrape away a good deal of the concrete liner.
How'd you like to be on the grinder crew! I don't care how much PPE, hearing protection, dust control you have, THAT had to be rotten duty.
Here's what the last section of tunnel looked like before sinking into place.
Detroit_Tunnel_float by Edmund, on Flickr
These 260' sections were built by the Great Lakes Engineering Co., launched on the ways some 48 miles upriver then sunk into position. Those vertical towers have depth markings on them to aid the engineers in placing and aligning the sections.
Never been to ND, AK, MI, IA, RI, or MS
I used to watch Apprentice, for a year or two and Chopped, a cooking show competition. Now I am down to Nascar, financial programming and the local weather.
There is good news on the horizon. A sequal to Borat!. Political incorrectness is right up my alley. The trailer features him with his Covid mask, and only a mask, and it's not on his face.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good Evening,
Expecting frost tonight so my wife is out covering the flower pots. I offered but apparently I don't do it correctly.
Michigan, well it has been many years since I was last there. I once lived in Sarnia and my apartment was right on the St. Clair River. I could see the rail barges going across the river and the U.S. exit to the rail tunnel from my living room window. Quite a few times I travelled from Pt. Huron right up the U.P. and through Duluth as that was the shortest route home to my parents place in N.W. Ontario right on the Minnesota border. Lovely drive. That was back in the early '70s. I was working for Sunoco at the time.
Well I got the J4e Pacific back from the brass guy and it sure runs nicely. Sounds good too. I did find that there is a problem with the front truck derailing. I have a few ideas but I'll have to see him about fixing it. Not likely he ran it on curves to test. It literally crawls on speed step 1. I still am thinking about making my outside curves 24" but that means a lot of changes. Not an impossible task though and it would let the brass run better. The detail on that engine is amazing. The trailing truck journal covers are hinged and swing open. Why that is needed who knows but it sure is neat.
Someone is burning in a fire pit and it doesn't smell like wood. Sure makes a stink when they do that. I can't understand how fire pits are allowed in a city. It isn't as though the smoke can be contained to one yard.
Have a good evening,
CN Charlie