The Magical Mystery Tour Continues!
February, 2021
For FEBRUARY, 2021 we will continue our tour all over North America by train with the diner in tow rather than being stuffed into a stub-end siding in some railroad yard we'll be out on the Main Line traveling the rails and seeing the sights!
Please join in and suggest or contribute ideas for locations or trains to ride in your favorite locale.
Kevin, SeeYou190, has provided us with a marvelous graphic to honor our departed Diner patrons. THANK YOU, Kevin!
We departed Laredo, Texas, Sunday morning and found ourselves in DALLAS, Texas where we will continue toward a return to Kansas City via the Missouri, Kansas, Texas Railroad, The Katy !
MKT, Houston, Texas, 1967 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
We will pass through Oklahoma, a new addition to our "States of Call" map:
MKT_Map by Edmund, on Flickr
Sit down and relax with your favorite snack or beverage! The Diner is welcome to all
Regards, Ed
Happy Monday, everyone!
You can read more about the Texas Special here — and the MKT, or Katy, here.
Here's a good story from a former Katy shop machinist/electrician:
It is always interesting to hear from the folks who were there.
Cheers, Ed
Thanks for your continued patronage Ed. You're a wonderful man and a wonderful host my friend
Enjoyed last month and looking forward to this new month ahead as this is fun
Time to ride the Train again for February
Thanks Ed. I'm hanging on for the ride. I'll be hanging out in the diner car again.
TF backed by Ozzy
My daughter that lives in Seattle has entered a contract to buy a very expensive house. She will be the second of my girls to buy a house that is worth several times what my house is worth.
I don't know why, but this is when I feel like they are all grown up, and they really don't need me anymore. That is good, because I sure can't help them out with anything that expensive.
My youngest is still getting settled into life. Trying different things and looking for that something she really wants.
All this makes me feel a bit older today.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Ed and Kevin,
Wondering if Chuck Beckman (TomikawaTT) was to be remembered on the RIP Track. I think there was a fair amount of final support for a particular avatar for him.
John
Attuvian1Wondering...
I sent you a PM.
SeeYou190I don't know why, but this is when I feel like they are all grown up, and they really don't need me anymore. That is good...,
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
SeeYou190 Attuvian1 Wondering if Chuck Beckman (TomikawaTT) was to be remembered on the RIP Track. I have discussed this with Ed. -Kevin
Attuvian1 Wondering if Chuck Beckman (TomikawaTT) was to be remembered on the RIP Track.
I have discussed this with Ed.
OK.
[edited]
It is good, it means that your Good Lady and yourself have done a good job of bringing up your daughters.
Now we just need one of them to make a grand-baby for us!
Kevin, Replied to your PM John
Attuvian1I noted that the Bear's provided photo of the Japanese Baldwin 0-4-2T is viewable, but the resulting avatar that you created is not. Another forum glitch?
No, I cleaned out my Imgur pictures since it is a new month.
Fantastic February - here we come and despite Covid and Lockdown, Spring is right around the next bend. Thanks to Dave for coming-up with the idea of a trip "Here there and everywhere" thru the North American Continent and to Ed and everyone else, for making it so enjoyable. Regards, Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
SeeYou190 Attuvian1 I noted that the Bear's provided photo of the Japanese Baldwin 0-4-2T is viewable, but the resulting avatar that you created is not. Another forum glitch? No, I cleaned out my Imgur pictures since it is a new month. -Kevin
Attuvian1 I noted that the Bear's provided photo of the Japanese Baldwin 0-4-2T is viewable, but the resulting avatar that you created is not. Another forum glitch?
I'm glad my sweetie doesn't read the forum. She'd send you a public request to have you clean my desk on a monthly basis!
Amazed at all the work you accomplish on your new house in such short time. And it looks so professional!
BTW, what are you doing up so late? I guess we can be grateful that the diner is open 24-7. Whoever is on the graveyard shift must be sleeping behind the counter - I don't see any of the girls. Maybe I'll just help myself to that piece of cherry pie over there . . .
Attuvian1BTW, what are you doing up so late?
Since I retired last year, I tend to stay up until 5 or 6 AM, and then sleep until The Young And The Restless starts at 12:30.
This is a great life. I sleep when I am tired and wake up when I feel rested.
Good morning all. A cold day. Enough said!
Kevin. It is scary when you see your children buying a housethat is way beyond the cost of your own. Our children have done the same. Then I remember our parents wondering how we could afford our house compared to the price of theirs.
It is coffee time. I shall raid the diner and see what is left 'after the nightshift'.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Well, the plan for the next few days is to spend a little time in our familiar Kansas City today, then a quick hop west to Denver on the U.P..
UP, Denver, Colorado, 1971 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
After a leisurely day in Denver we have big plans to explore the narrow gauge railroads of southern Colorado. When I was there in 1966 there were many remnants around Alamosa, Chama, Lumberton and Durango.
Lots to see and do in the great state of Colorado
DRGW, Plainview, Colorado, 1983 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
DRGW, Hermosa, Colorado, circa 1980 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Chris Mohs by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Good Morning All,
A regular and some bacon and eggs would be nice today Zoe. Rye toast too please with blueberry jam. Thanks for continuing the trip Ed. One of my big regrets on all the Colorado trips we took was that we never went on any of the scenic railroads. We haven't been back for regular vacation either so that may just be a lost oppourtunity.
22F and s**wing this morning. I have w**k to catch up so I came in though the roads aren't really cleared yet. Moved a couple of pieces in the yard out of the way for the plow guy and made some coffee so here I am. Hopefully the rest of the crew will be smart and stay home.
Katy, Texas is where the CFO and the chief mechanic from the flight school went to pick up the Cessna 172 to fly home. It turned out to be a really good deal immaculate inside and out though the engine houred out this year. Of course she got the upgrade to the powerplant so now it is if not a hot rod, at least better performing. You can really notice the difference taking off and the fuel consumption is hardly different. I don't have my license and have no desire to get one though it might be a good idea to take some lessons "just in case". I usually limit myself to trying to be useful and watch the radar screen and nav system.
Kevin - Sounds like you did a good job raising your kids. It does take patience even after they move out as is the case with our youngest who seemed determined for a while to make a living delivering Chinese food. He is now in Long Beach, Ca. finishing up training to be a teacher.
I don't know about Fla. but here house prices have skyrocketed though what goes up must come down at least to some extent.
It is indeed a beautiful world.
snow3 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr" alt="snow" />
Hope you all have a good day. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
Kevin, I know it gives you a great amount of satisfaction that your kids are doing so well. Congratulations. You did a good job.
I think we may get some sunshine today for the first time in a long time. I don't think it will warm up to melt any snow, but it will be nice psychologically to see a brighter outdoors.
The diner is headed for some beautiful country.
York1 John
Good morning
So refreshing to hear life lived with good Dad experiences. I think I was one of them and still am
Enjoyed both Crazy Train versions. Thanks Bear, Thanks Kevin. The time of the big Bands before my time. I never knew that version existed and shortly after I listen to it, it disappeared
So typical. I remember learning exact similarities like that with other songs that were originally composed in older music that the current generation wanted to take credit for
In the end, after I listened to The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by the one and only Gordon Lightfoot.
Can you guess what the more enjoyed song was?
Nothing better than a very talented folk singer
TF
Good Grief
I just need to share this one with you.
Judy and I were talking memories this morning. We were sharing and laughing and decided all the pictures in our life that were lost, we don't need anymore. The pictures of the memories are permanently engraved in our heads.
She talked about the time we went down to Chicago and we went to see the classic Water Fountain. Apparently it took awhile for Kelly to remember that one but she did and we all laughed.
The reason it was so funny to remember is because of that old Sit-Com Married With Children.
Al Bundy installed a Ferguson toilet in his man cave garage. When he flushed it for the first time the water pressure in the Historic Fountain in Chicago went way down
It was because of that stupidity we all had to stop there to see it
Man, we laughed hard this morning
PH
TF I think the main reason to have the photographs is to show others who weren't there when you can't explain well enough.
So ok, I didn't play the Pat Boone version of Crazy Train until just now and gee I hope it was a goof. Sort of like the Frank Sinatra version of Mrs Robinson compared to the original. Now all we need is for someone to dig up Donnie and Marie doing Back in Black or similar. Ok, that was a bit extreme, how about Doris Day doing Bad Reputation instead. J.R.
GMTRacing TF I think the main reason to have the photographs is to show others who weren't there
TF I think the main reason to have the photographs is to show others who weren't there
What other people?
Just toying with you JR
I getcha
crazy train.
Well the other people who aren't (all) there. Who else would I mean?
403 Forbidden people
And are you one of the few that actually bought that ain't all there stuff
No reason to deviate from Ozzy's Crazy Train version. At that point it gelled. There was no more room for improvement after that! All of the other versions are very damaging to my ears.
Let's just all stick to the Bears version that he posted please!
Good evening all. Apparently I am not dead. I must explain.
Today I received a message to go for the Covid jab. I was unaware that Dawn was worried I might not get it and she burst into tears of relief at the news. Anyway after I had calmed her down, she decided to text our daughter (who was working) the news.
Now I do not know what the text message was, but our daughter rang back immediately. Within seconds Julia (our daughter) was in tears asking 'How did I die?'
Well, there I was larger than life with a cup of coffee listening (with a puzzled look) to Dawn trying to explain I was okay.
Anyway, eventually it was all sorted out. I am alive and well.
Feta Cheese Tart Salad and Mini Roast Potatoes. A glass of Shandy to drink. A Fruit Salad and Cream to follow.
Yesterday, the forecast was for sun today. There's nothing on radar. The forecast changed from sun to clouds.
I just came in from walking Daisy the Dachshund. Why are there all these small white flaky things falling from the sky?
It's only February 1st and I'm getting real tired of snow every day.
Some more, some more
More goodies in the mailbox today.
Man that took a long time to get here.
The Twin Cities & Western DC/DCC hybrid and sound
Got it ...but not for long
Isn't she beautiful and I have one more coming #2300 for my Brother.
It's really something. I used to go to my Model Railroad Club in St Louis Park and see the Twin Cities & Western locomotive's in HO scale.
I've always wanted a few but they have never been available in N scale. NOW THEY are!
I seen my brother's face when he saw one at Scale Model Supply in St. Paul.
That was enough for me. He gets two and I get none
That's the way it works for his Birthday present because I love that young man and I got to get him back for that beautiful Challenger he gave me in December for my Birthday.
Not that it costed quite as much but I think It's almost like handing someone a $1,000 bill in the 40's or 50's. When the other guy pinches the bill to take it out of your hand and you pinch the bill a little longer not "To Let It Go"
gmpullmanAfter a leisurely day in Denver we have big plans to explore the narrow gauge railroads of southern Colorado. When I was there in 1966 there were many remnants around Alamosa, Chama, Lumberton and Durango. Lots to see and do in the great state of Colorado
Hi Ed,
Is there a chance we can visit Boulder, Colorado, please? I used to really like watching Mork and Mindy and I found Pam Dawber to be very attractive. + she had a JEEP. Drinks are on me, if we can make it there. Regards, Paul.
I was too busy to watch Mork and Mindy, but in the US we had a show called Thermo Man, which you would know as My Hero.
Dawn Dawber is a week older than I am. How come I can't find a picture of her with gray hair?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley