Mr. TF.
Another year older;
Another year wiser????
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
gmpullmanIf not, stragglers get a Peanut Butter and Marshmallow sandwich!
We called those "peanut butter fluff" sandwiches when I was young. Add banana slices for a next-level experience!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
We watched "White Christmas" last night. They took a train from Florida to Vermont in the movie. A Santa Fe warbonnet?
Well, they did film the movie in California.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Happy Boxing day all. It is a damp day way out West.
Happy Birthday, TF ya young punk. Let us know what your haul from the "toy store" was.
We had a very quiet Christmas with just the four of us. The kids both commented on how nice it was spending the quality time together instead of having the revolving door and twenty for Christmas dinner that has happened every year since they arrived on the planet.
We still only have a partial kitchen going, however, the wife cooked a massive Christmas dinner and the kids hopped in the BATMOBILE and delivered Christmas dinner to several of the elderly members of the family stuck at home. Some of them would have been at our house, some not. I spent about two hours doing dishes afterwards as we still have no dishwasher. OH, THE HUMANITY!
We also included in accompanying baskets, Christmas crackers, a bottle of wine and a box of Purdy's chocolates as well as lots of other goodies. It really lifted their spirits as they have been housebound for so long being old and high risk.
Lots to do today, I already burned 1500 calories off on the bike after my gluttony yesterday so I have a clear conscience. I figure I consumed about 5000 calories with booze and chocolate being the biggest contributors. Another good ride tomorrow and I am at even.
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."
BATMAN I spent about two hours doing dishes afterwards as we still have no dishwasher
Bear.
The old hands are still feeling it this morning, maybe it is because we use Dawn. My wife's hospital had gallons of Dawn at the ready for oil spill cleaning of animals and she likes it at home.
I did give the new sink and tap a real break in though and it is pretty nice. There is no tile backsplash yet and in my enthusiasm, I had to keep wiping down the wall.
Post hog!
I asked my wife what went in the hole in the new kitchen cabinets and she said, "the dishwasher".
BATMANI asked my wife what went in the hole in the new kitchen cabinets and she said, "the dishwasher".
ROFLMAO!!!! Love it!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Wishing all a Merry Christmas season.
This year, my family scaled back our holiday plans and only visited with nearby relatives. Sadly didn't get to go to Washington DC and visit my grandmother. It did go nicely and I kind of liked that we didn't go out of town. I decided to work on Christmas and I'll enjoy the holiday pay.
Two packages of train things arrived back on Thursday and I decided to open them on Christmas itself. A pair of second hand Walthers PRR USRA mill gondolas that I'll look forward to upgrading with loads, new parts, and weathering, and a BLI F3 A-B set. I have a lot of steam engines so I need some diesels in the fleet.
Alvie
For nearly 40 years my wife, Dawn, has been trying to track down my long lost 'brother'. As young lads we used to go about and grew up together. He was at our wedding. When he started work it took him all over the country and for one reason and another we lost touch.
Today, Dawn found him.
A Merry Christmas indeed.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
NorthBrit For nearly 40 years my wife, Dawn, has been trying to track down my long lost 'brother'. As young lads we used to go about and grew up together. He was at our wedding. When he started work it took him all over the country and for one reason and another we lost touch. Today, Dawn found him. A Merry Christmas indeed. David
Excellent news! And it makes for an even Merrier Christmas.
Thanks for the other Happy Birthdays Mr. B, Bear and Brent. Put another smile on my face.
I just wanted to say thanks for the beautiful train cake Ed
The kitchen is looking great Brent. I especially like the personalized dishwasher. I busted a gut
Per Brent's request, the toy I got at the hobby store today.
My brother bought it for me for my birthday present. Little did I know that's why he wanted to take me down there.
It's a DC/DCC hybrid with Tsunami sound.
The best birthday present I've ever got in my life. Man I love my little brother. What a great birthday this year, Thanks Everyone
TF
Track fiddler Happy Birthday
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
As I continue to go through all of my photographs... I realized that I never shared my pictures from the North Carolina Museum Of Transportation last July with my fellow diners.
We went during the serious Covid Lockdown, so there was literally no one else there. I think all the other cars in the lot belonged to museum employees.
The fifty foot boxcar at the front of the parking lot was wearing a very nicely done fresh coat of paint.
The other side of the boxcar was still "Undecorated"... hmmm... I wonder how large of a donation I would need to make to the museum for them to allow me to paint it up in fine-looking STRATTON AND GILLETTE heraldry and lettering?
There were some interesting new displays of beautifully restored freight cars that were new since the last time I visited, like this ATLANTIC COAST LINE stainless steel hopper car.
...and this SOUTHERN "Big John" covered hopper car.
The inside displays were all closed due to Covid, but they had moved a lot of stuff outside. This boxcar is painted for the ATLANTIC AND EAST CAROLINA. I am not very sure, but I think this is a Mather car rebuilt with steel sides.
The last time I was here this locomotive was in the backshop building being restored. Look at how good it looks now in brand new paint.
I do not remember seeing this General Electric 45 ton switcher before. It sure looks great too. I love the side rods.
The museum paint shop must have been putting in some good overtime. The Pullman-Standard 200,000th car is sure looking handsome.
A few of the steam locomotives were moved outside of the roundhouse since no visitors could go inside.
Then... the grand finale... once again I was lucky enough to be in North Carolina while 611 was there for heavy maintenance.
Since I was the ONLY person there, I was allowed access to inspect 611 in a way that no one ever gets to. This was a thrill. I was asked not to take any pictures in the restricted zone, so I did not.
This is the second time I have been up close and intimate with 611. My wife knows who the "other woman" is in this relationship!
Has there been a Mr. O siting or did I miss it? Not like him to not wish us a happy holiday and ply us with holiday cookies.
Hope all is well.
Hi Kevin,
The North Carolina Museum of Transportation has a very interesting collection! Thanks for sharing the photographs.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
maxmanHas there been a Mr. O siting or did I miss it?
It has been two months since Steve has posted something.
Track fiddlerPer Brent's request, the toy I got at the hobby store today. My brother bought it for me for my birthday present. Little did I know that's why he wanted to take me down there. It's a DC/DCC hybrid with Tsunami sound. The best birthday present I've ever got in my life. Man I love my little brother. What a great birthday this year, Thanks Everyone
Your brother is very generous TF! You are lucky to have a brother like that.
Hi guys!!
I hope you all had a great Christmas!!
It is getting close to the end of the month again so you know what that means!! We have to choose a new location for the Diner. We will be hard pressed to equal David's (North Brit) prolific contributions to the December Diner. Thank you again David. You have been a wonderful host!!!!
How about choosing someplace with well known 'Name Trains'? I'm partial to the Illinois Central's 'City of New Orleans', thanks largely to Willie Nelson's great version of the song about the train, but there are lots of other famous trains out there. Maybe we could change things up a bit by attaching the Diner to a number of different renowned trains and just follow them from their departure points to their destinations as they criss-cross the continent. How about one train a week throughout January?
If you don't want to break the mold, just say so.
Cheers and Happy New Year!!!
Evening,
Not much going on in my world. On call at work and we were afftected by the goingson in TN.
So I am a big old movie theatre lover, I have always wanted to own one.
Here in town we have an old theatre that has been closed since the 1980s
I made an effort a few years back to get money to refurbish and open it.
never could get anything going.
I was digging through some old paperwork at the Railroad museum here in town one day and came across a waybil from 1925 where a load of theatre chairs was shipped form Chicago to the theatre here in town. It was under contruction at that time.
I though this was kind of neat, Railroad and movie theatre related.
Good morning all. Toast and tea with Apricot Jam is on the table. Help yourselves.
TF. A lovely looking engine indeed.
Kevin. Great pictures. Thanks for posting.
I have lost the sound on my computer, so I hope the following play okay.
Double headed steam.
'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' trains organised by the Railway Touring Company. Originally due to be hauled by No. 35018 'British India Line', the owner of B1 No.61306 'Mayflower' asked if his loco could be added as pilot and the unusual pairing put on a superb display over Shap and the Settle and Carlisle. Heavy snowfalls during the week and cold sunny conditions made the perfect combination for the train. The video was filmed at Shap Wells and Birkett Common.
Thoughts and Peace to All who Require.
hon30critterHow about choosing someplace with well known 'Name Trains'? I'm partial to the Illinois Central's 'City of New Orleans', thanks largely to Willie Nelson's great version of the song about the train, but there are lots of other famous trains out there. Maybe we could change things up a bit by attaching the Diner to a number of different renowned trains and just follow them from their departure points to their destinations as they criss-cross the continent. How about one train a week throughout January?
Hi Dave,
I'm all for your suggestion. This is after all, an American Continents Model R/R Forum. After 48 years (1968 - 2016) of modelling OO scale, British Railways, North Eastern Region - I came here to "bury Caesar, not to praise him".
Arlo Guthrie's version of 'City of New Orleans' was one of the first songs I ever taught myself to play (still can't get the run-down in the chorus quite right) from my mam & dad's vinyl LP (wore it out for them) but to a 60/70's kid, the names were awe-inspiring and I looked them all up in our encyclopedia Atlas of the World. I have liked that song, all my life.
One day I thought I might get there, just to see these places, not to be. But at least there is the pleasure of recreating them (my interpretation) in HO scale.
'Orange Blossom Special' is another well known one and my parents had a Carter Family LP too. There is loads of potential for themed Trains, as they crossed the American continents. Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Good morning
Thanks Terry! The only thing that could have improved my birthday yesterday would have been to run trains on that beautiful big layout of yours. That sure was a fun day to remember.
You're right Dave, I am very lucky to have a brother like that. I was looking at my locomotive drooling this morning over coffee
I always wanted the Challenger but never digged that deep in my pocket. My brother is doing a side job for a friend today and dropping off an MRC Tech 2 Transformer he replaced with a new one
I really am a lucky guy! Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes
Hope Steve O stops by as he is missed around here
TF Happy birthday
David, I worked with a neurosurgeon, who when he was at Johns Hopkins, successfully operated on a gangster's back. The patient was grateful and asked what he could do for the doctor.
He told the gangster, my brother has mental issues and disappeared. "My family has hired private detectives and we can't find him."
Within a couple hours the gangster called him back with an address in NYC and that night my friend took Amtrak from Baltimore to NYC and was knocking on his brother's door.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Just an FYI here,
we may not hear from Garry for a bit until they communications restored from Friday morning's Nashville Incident. I know some people up where he lives that are still without services. Our 911 system is still down , luckilly work only had some phone issues.
Henry. Amazing story. There is always hope.
It is 'Afternoon Tea' Sandwiches, sweet mince pies, Christmas Cake with Wensleydale Cheese.
Something a little different . a video from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. You might know, after 'Tornado' , they have started building an even bigger machine, a Gresley P2. This will be number 2007, called Prince of Wales. It's about three years away from being finished.
I almost forgot. 'Santa's footprints'. An empty glass of sherry and the crumbs from his sweet mince pie.
'We Believe'
Howdy.
MLC ... Thanks for what you said . AT&T has restored service.
The Nashville bomb of Christmas morning impacted an AT&T building housing a major communications hub. It serves a wide area including our part of western Kentucky.
About three hours after the explosion, we lost cell phone service and internet connection.
AT&T has now restored service . We just got connected. I will catch up with your posts later.
Cheers.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
cats think well of meThis year, my family scaled back our holiday plans and only visited with nearby relatives.
No family visits at all for me this year. I am hopeful that in six months family events can be back to normal again.
Track fiddlerMy brother bought it for me for my birthday present. <SNIP> The best birthday present I've ever got in my life. Man I love my little brother.
That is a great surprise... I will bet you are a lot more motivated to get some trains running now!
hon30critterThe North Carolina Museum of Transportation has a very interesting collection! Thanks for sharing the photographs.
They really do have a nice collection. It is the best train museum I have visited... and I have visited a lot of them. Hopefully in 2021 I will be able to get to the train museums on the Atlantic Coast in Maryland and Pennsylvania, then bouce back to Age Of Steam in Ohio.
hon30critterMaybe we could change things up a bit by attaching the Diner to a number of different renowned trains and just follow them from their departure points to their destinations as they criss-cross the continent. How about one train a week throughout January?
This sounds like a very fun idea. I am just a passenger in the diner so I would not host any of this, but I would love the ride.
I think it will take a team effort to do anything near as good as David did this month.
THANK YOU DAVID!
moelarrycurly4Here in town we have an old theatre that has been closed since the 1980s I made an effort a few years back to get money to refurbish and open it.
In Fort Myers the old Edison Theater sat derelict for more than a decade. In the 1980s it was used as a background scene in the movie Day Of The Dead because it looked so run down.
It was finally restored and was a law office for a while, but now it is a stage theater.
Track fiddlerHope Steve O stops by as he is missed around here.
Me too. His absence is very obvious.
moelarrycurly4we may not hear from Garry for a bit until they communications restored from Friday morning's Nashville Incident. I know some people up where he lives that are still without services. Our 911 system is still down , luckilly work only had some phone issues.
Wow, that is crazy. I did not know the outage would stretch that far.
I have seen on the news that a lot of the stores in the Nashville area are "cash only" right now because all the credit card servers are down due to the explosion, and that is causing big problems.
Heartland Division CB&Q We just got connected. I will catch up with your posts later.
I am glad you are able to be here.
The "L" was and is in Chicago. They have L trains that run under ground.
In New York they had "El" trains most of which have been torn down
Today we have "Elevated Subways" which some people still call "The El" but most people correctly call them "The Subway" and it does not matter if they are above ground on a structure or below ground in a tunnel.
New York's "El" trains, like the Chicago "L" trains were shorter, of lighter weight and the structures were more lighly built. They would not be able to carry today's New York City Subway Trains. The cars are longer and the trains have more cars, The cars are very heavy since they were made to railroad standards, rather than likghter weight standards.
The heavier subway structures were mandated for all constructioin after whatever date the law went into effect. The lighter structures were either torn down, reinforced, or continued to operate with lighter weight equipment. he Myrtle Avenue El and the Third Avenue El in the Bronx were the last of the light-weight structures to survive into the 80s. There were plans to buy new "El-cars" for these lines (the R-36), but the lines were torn down instesd.
Merry Christmas and a happy Gnu Ear.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS