Good morning all. A wet and miserable looking day today.
Garry. I hope the thieves get their comeuppence soon. (Get caught. Thrown in jail and the key thrown away.) Since Covid robberies are on the increase here as well.
The baby of our family is no longer a baby. Our younger granddaughter it's her fifth birthday today and she is adamant in correcting anyone. "She is a big girl now." I am not arguing.
Coffee and cake is on the table.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
Garry, sorry about that. Your stuff is probably already sold for drug money. Drugs drive 99% of the crime in our area.
Nice pictures, everyone.
I'm not a photographer at all. Without even a cell phone, I let everyone else take the pictures.
Years ago, my friends were all taking a Southern Railroad excursion. As they came by, I took a bunch of pictures. This was the only one that came out half-way clear.
York1 John
There have been enough new eBay threads lately, and I did not want to start a new one for this silly thing, so I will just share this with my fellow diner patrons.
I just bought another locomotive on eBay. It is an older Athearn unit without a motor, and some custom work has been started. Two Ernst gear kits and some brass detail parts are included.
The description plainly says:
Does not run, project, as-is. The condition was marked as "used", not "new".
It was only $11.00 with shipping, and the Ernst gears are worth that, so I clicked the "Buy It Now", and figured I am getting the locomotive for free.
When I went to pay, eBay popped up a window and offered me a one-year Buyer Protection Plan for $2.99 that would cover the item if it failed within 12 months.
How does that work? It isn't going to work from the moment it shows up... there is no motor, and the description plainly states it is inoperative and is being sold AS-IS.
Could I have spent the $2.99, and then immediately demanded a refund of $11.00 when the locomotive showed up?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good evening all. Son & daughter and grandchildren visited (at a safe distance). Lovely to see them. Since the start of Covid last year we have seen them only a handful of times.
Courgette, Cherry Tomatoes & Feta Tart with Roast Potatoes. A Toffee Fruit Salad to follow.
Stay safe.
NorthBritGood evening all. Son & daughter and grandchildren visited (at a safe distance). Lovely to see them. Since the start of Covid last year we have seen them only a handful of times.
David, I understand completely. This has been difficult for us grandparents.
Kevin, I think you might be able to go into business with this on Ebay. I'm willing to invest some money. It may not seem like a lot of money, but I'll bet we could make quite a bit through volume.
Here's a fascinating look at photographs documenting the November, 1927 flood along the Boston & Albany, much of this route we will be travelling tonight to Boston:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/albums/72157696298396811
photo #12 012 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
On the New York Central:
NYC-4041_Hudson-NY by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Good evening everybody.
Thanks for all of the comments about my post yesterday decribing a theft. Apparently, it could have been worse. At least one thief broke into several storage units and went "shopping". Our loss was not as bad as others.
Tomorrow will be a busy day for me. I have appointments in Nashville.
Ed .... Your photos continue to be great.
Have a good night.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
For the few out there that still have real computer monitors here's a photo of Boston's South Station trackage that is worthy of further, detailed inspection:
South_Station_1905 by Edmund, on Flickr
I scanned it at a higher resolution so that details could be inspected. I see some trackwork in progress, both on the far right and where the "gandy dancers" are working on tamping a double slip switch.
Those switch point motors harken to the Atlas twin-coil type. The signals, do you suppose lanterns were set in place on the approach of dusk? I've seen some train order signals where the operator had to light the illumination lamp at night.
Signal #10 on the right seems to have a lamp (chimney visible) still hanging on it.
When you got a stop signal on the Boston Elevated, it really meant STOP!
Boston Elevated Railway. Equipment. Bunter and car at Charles River Bridge draw by Boston Public Library, on Flickr
Here's a look at some of the damage wrought in the January, 1919 molasses disaster:
Twisted elevated structure on Atlantic Ave., damaged in Molasses Disaster by Boston Public Library, on Flickr
Good afternoon from sunnyville, the Sun is just setting.
Got the rest of the floor up and now can start to put down the 12.5mm subfloor. The truck is loaded up for the tri[ to the transfer station tomorrow, What will it weigh, fool the guesser!
Bought three new cabinets for the laundry room and now we need to buy one for the powder room. These things always look worse when you remove them. You plan to put them back but then decide that is probably not a good idea. I redid the powder room 11 years ago so we were borderline on the cabinet.
I Hope Ken and TF are OK both are MIA.
Ed, I just love zooming in on those pics you post and looking around, I feel like a time traveller.
Brokedown and made a Dentist appointment, I usually go three times a year but have been putting it off. Called today and go Friday for a full exam and cleaning. I don't think they are too busy if I got in in two days.
I have been a glutton lately and popped up 5lbs, body fat up to 18% see me next week I'll be skinny again. The daughter has been cooking up a storm in our new kitchen, bad daughter, make Daddy Fat.
Garry sorry to hear about the theft from your locker. We don't get much crime around hear. The slimballs are just too lazy to come out to the stix. We rarely lock our doors on the house and never on the cars. We get border jumpers wandering by sometimes but that is about it.
We have been car shopping and we just don't know what to do for a vehicle. We don't know what our needs are going to be in the next couple of years, but we need something. The wife needs something to carry lots of dogs so we are looking at an Expedition or Suburban, but may go something smaller for the short term.
In 2000 we paid $34,000.00 for our 2001 F-350 7.3ltr Supercab. The same truck is a $100,000.00 CA today. I must be getting old because I find that a bit of a shock. I didn't think twice about the $34,000.00 21 years ago.
Well time for a Rum refill, the bones are aching from house renos.
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."
Eveing Diners!
Flo, give the gang and I a and some of my cake and Dirk and Robbie a dog treat.
As of today I have been kicking around for 65 years. Did nothing speical, after all it is the 65th time it has came around.
Best news this year is my total Credit Card debit is $299.00! I am a sold 773 credit score and a mer $299.00 from a 778. Time for home repairs!
Ed Great talking too you.
Ken and Dirk say's Woof, Woof!
I hate Rust
Happy birthday, Ken! I think this officially qualifies you as a senior citizen.
Heartland Division CB&QToday, we received a phone call from the owner of the storage facility where we keep our boat for the winter. Bad news. A thief broke into several storage units including ours. In our case , items stolen were the battery, a charger, and a cable switch. Cables were cut and must be replaced. .... Makes me angry.
Hi Garry,
You have every right to be angry! I hope the storage facility had decent video cameras. Hopefully the Police can identify the perps.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Heartland Division CB&QThanks for all of the comments about my post yesterday decribing a theft. Apparently, it could have been worse. At least one thief broke into several storage units and went "shopping". Our loss was not as bad as others.
Garry, I missed your previous post.
Around here, thieves seem to love to steal outboard boat engines. Sometimes they tow off entire boats from the docks late at night.
Sorry for all the inconvenience.
York1Kevin, I think you might be able to go into business with this on Ebay. I'm willing to invest some money. It may not seem like a lot of money, but I'll bet we could make quite a bit through volume.
We would really need to make a lot of purchases to attain the scale to make it economically viable. It would be a "work from home" business model, so that is a plus.
gmpullmanFor the few out there that still have real computer monitors here's a photo of Boston's South Station trackage that is worthy of further, detailed inspection:
That is a great picture to blow up and take a virtual walk about. Thank you!
cudakenAs of today I have been kicking around for 65 years. Did nothing speical, after all it is the 65th time it has came around.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Hello gang!!
We are approaching the end of the month. (As a kid I always felt ripped off when February came around - even the leap years didn't make up for it! I want a full month!!).
I have a suggestion for March which specifically involves Diner cars, and which may (or may not) give Ed a well deserved rest. How about we park the Diner where the Diner cars were made? We could explore the area as we used to, but we could also explore the factories where the cars were made including what else they produced.
Now, having shot my mouth off, I have to confess that I have extremely little personal knowledge of these things. The only thing that I think I know is that Pullman produced a lot of Diners so maybe we could start in Chicago. In other words, if we decide to adopt the theme, don't ask me to do anything other than observe. In fact, I'm worried that I may just be asking Ed to do the same thing that he has for the past two months, only differently for March.
Ed, please speak up if you feel that my suggested theme for the March Diner is asking too much of you. We really need to have more forum members buy into the Diner by helping with the content.
Cheers!!
P.S.
I always enjoy the start of every month. I get to watch our bank balance go 'ping' when the pensions come in! It sometimes seems like I'm playing a guaranteed payoff slot machine. All I have to do is avoid blowing all or more of the winnings before the month ends!
cudaken As of today I have been kicking around for 65 years
Happy Birthday Ken!!!!
You are a person to be admired. You have stopped smoking, you have gotten your finances in order, you are enjoying life, you are planning ahead so you can keep a roof over your head, AND you have a great layout! Congratulations!!
NorthBritCourgette, Cherry Tomatoes & Feta Tart with Roast Potatoes. A Toffee Fruit Salad to follow.
Thanks, David! I never had a Tata Fart before. What kind of wine do you suggest with that?
Dave, That sounds fine for March. Pullman had several shops, the main one IN Pullman of course, but I believe Wilmington; Buffalo; Richmond, California; Atlanta and St. Louis also had big repair shops. The Edw. G. Budd Co. was in Red Lion just outside Philadelphia and there was St. Louis Car Co. in the namesake city and also near Pittsburgh, too. Osgood Bradley was in Worcester, Mass, I believe and CN and CP had several of their own shops, too.
Trains_Car003 by Edmund, on Flickr
Trains_BuildingCar005 by Edmund, on Flickr
hon30critter We could explore the area as we used to, but we could also explore the factories where the cars were made including what else they produced.
Speaking of other products the carbuilders produced, the Budd Company was a pioneer in heavy truck wheels. I seem to recall that was their primary business before going into rail cars.
Guess what the remnants of the Pressed Steel Car Company produces today?
The Mini Cooper! There's your trivia for the day
Happy Birthday, Ken! I'm right behind you (in August) I know I'll be 65 because I'm getting a dozen offers for Medicare plans in the mail every week!
Cheers, Ed
Happy Birthday Ken!
CN Charlie and Robbie
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning all. A sunny day here in the UK.
Ken. Happy Birthday.
Ed I am no wine expert. Sometimes I will have a glass of red. Another day a Rose` I just believe in drinking what I feel like drinking. Most days now it is a small can of orange or lemonade.
This afternoon a meat and potato pie has been asked for (by Dawn), so I shall be baking that.
Meanwhile it is Coffee time. With cake left from yesterday.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Good Morning All,
A near tropical 40F (4C) out this morning with a wicked wind. Sebring went well and the flight home was routine so it's just getting back into the shop backup again. I'll have a regular and some of that left over cake please. Thanks David.
Happy Birthday Ken! I echo the others in congratulations on staying off the cigarettes and getting the debt down and the credit score up.
All these home renovations the rest of you are doing make me tired. I've been plugging along at the house so we can get it on the market soon after we close on the new place the 15th next month. House passed all it's inspections save for needing some radon remidiation (common in New England). 45 page appraisal came in all good, loan confirmed, just a matter of time now. We were trying to downsize but the new place is actually bigger once you add in the back enclosed porch they put on. It is one floor though so the CFO will have an easier time without stairs. (You might wonder why a young'un of 66 has so much trouble but after 6 arthoscopic surgeries on her left knee there is little cartilidge left and stairs are literally a pain).
A tour of the rail car plants sounds good. Does anyone know what they built in Butler, Pa? I have all my books put away and can't remember if that was where the GE electric locomotive plant was or if it was for more passenger cars.
The Osgood Bradley cars with fluted stainess sides morphed into the AC Gilbert American Flyer coaches when modeled in S scale and that is how the cars were given that moniker on the New Haven Railroad. Of course being frugal yankees, they made most of the chassis in steel and then clad it in stainless skins so the majority of the cars made it to the scrap heap early as a result of corrosion between the framing and outer shell.
The non movable stainless diners were also made by Airstream of camping trailer fame but that is another whole story.
Sebring tent at night by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr" alt="" />
Catch y'all later. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning. Flo, I need coffee.
Not much happening on the Great Plains today. It's a good day to work on the railroad. I'm still working on crossing signals and Arduino.
This picture is from about 1958. My father had us all out at the airport on an abandoned RR siding where this old UP 2-8-0 was parked. That's me in the striped shirt up at the top. This loco was eventually moved to a museum in town. My father loved trains. Often, our evening entertainment was to go downtown to watch the trains on the UP mainline across Nebraska.
Looks like Kalmbach has the front end going now with trains.com
GMTRacingA tour of the rail car plants sounds good. Does anyone know what they built in Butler, Pa?
I was under the impression that Butler was a Pullman-Standard freight car plant. I'll have to do some digging on that. It used to be Standard steel Car Co.
There was also a Greenville Steel Car Co. too! Building railroad cars seems like it used to be a thriving industry
AFIK, GE Erie was the main locomotive plant, Cooper-Bessemer originally made the prime movers. GE Locomotives has an auxiliary plant in Grove City, Pa. and Ft. Worth, Texas.
Thanks Ed. I think you have that all right. I would take the back way to Pittsburgh off rt 80 to avoid a lot of the nonsense and kept stumbling over large multi track sidings and old plants that often looked nearly abandoned in the 1990's-2000's. I seem to remember one was loaded with new gondolas but I never had time to stop as we were always on our way somewhere. J.R.
ED - In the South Boston Yard photo, what's going on with the ore cars on the elevated ramp on the right side of the shot? The ramp is very steep with a curve in the middle?!!
JOHN - That's a great family photo! Your sister is the only one paying attention to the camera and your youngest brother is using the engine as a giant teething ring. The locomotive looks sharp with its fresh paint. The paint scheme on the smokebox door makes it look like Thomas the Tank Engine.
Tim
Late to the model railroad party but playing catch-up.....
HAPPY (day late) BIRTHDAY TO KEN!!!!!!
Good morning from the West Coast where it is a bright but O/C day. Should hit 12c today.
I like the railcar factory tour idea, I always keep an eye on freight car orders as it is a good indicator of how different sectors of the economy will be doing. My son opened his first stock account at age 14 and we discuss what is looking good and what isn't. He has really begun to follow the rail industry in general and it makes up a good percentage of his investments right now.
Back around 1980, I bought some railcars that were then leased to the RRs. The return was 15%. I would pay cash for one and borrow for a second. A 30% return paid off the loan on the second pretty quick and then the rest was gravy. I think I kept them for 12 years as that was the best time to sell them. If I remember correctly I did really well when I sold them as there was a shortage of cars at the time. The risk was a severe downturn in the economy and the RRs defaulting on the lease arrangement.
Time for the bike and then to the transfer station with the torn-up flooring. I don't think I could get another molecule into the back of the truck. If I am not suffering too much after that, I'll go grab a 1000lbs of 12.5mm plywood.
I really like these playing for change videos.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail&mid=9B13E5B1B0451A6B17039B13E5B1B0451A6B1703&shtp=Facebook&shid=5ca69de9-d3c1-4b3c-a406-0120b7f2eb73&shtk=VGhlIFdlaWdodCB8IEZlYXR1cmluZyBSaW5nbyBTdGFyciBhbmQgU
Anyone see my Isotop?
CapnCrunchED - In the South Boston Yard photo, what's going on with the ore cars on the elevated ramp on the right side of the shot? The ramp is very steep with a curve in the middle?!!
My take on that ramp is it is a coal dump, although I don't see a tall smokestack in the photo there is a large, round "chimney" of sorts in the middle of that structure.
Here's what appears to be an earlier view:
South_Station_1904 by Edmund, on Flickr
I believe coal and ore were hauled in similar "drop-bottom" cars that still required a bit of shovel work to completely empty.
You have me curious. I'll see if I can find some Sanborn maps or something else to find out what that building's occupant was doing. Looks like it is a boiler house/power plant:
Boston_South_Station_crop by Edmund, on Flickr
South_Sta_Powerhouse by Edmund, on Flickr
Looks like a carload of WOW in there, too
Of course, back then nearly every mid-to-large size business had a need for a siding and coal was the fuel of choice as well. I recall snooping around dozens of old factory sites around Cleveland and often found remnants of sidings some of which were dedicated to coal for the boiler house or manufacturing process.
One of the fellows I w**ked with was a "coal passer" (his job title) at a local hospital. In the winter months they would burn four carloads of coal a week.
The tracks ramping downward off the main were for a return loop with platforms which was never used.
gmpullmanSignal #10 on the right seems to have a lamp (chimney visible) still hanging on it.
Looks like what we called smudge pots
Before battery powered road hazard signs, that look like saw horses, there were smudge pots.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
The Diner has been switched 'round to North Station for departure on the Boston & Maine Railroad.
We're on our way north up the coast toward Maine. Let's stop and look around Salem, Massachusetts for a while shall we? But I think I'll dial the WayBack Machine to 1910:
BnM_Salem-Mass-1910 by Edmund, on Flickr
I spy at the far lower left one of the lanterns that was probably used to illuminate the semaphore signals, perhaps. This example has the same type of chimney that Signal #10 has in the South Station photo.
Old Dobbin seems to be curious about the camera and I see there's a Café capitalizing on the Witch City name down the street to the left.
This B&M stone structure survived until 1954. The Great Salem Fire of 1914 was particularly devastating to the city:
The Great Salem Fire started with a series of explosions, caused by a mixture of acetone, amalacitate, alcohol, and celluloid. At 1:37 p.m. (EDT) on June 25, 1914, a fire alarm box was used to report a fire in the Korn Leather Factory at 57 Boston Street. A memorial plaque is on the site, now occupied by a Walgreens store.
The fire spread quickly down and across Boston Street, due to a drought. The police department sent out calls to 21 cities for assistance. One industrial department, the Fore River Shipyard, also assisted. Over 90 out of town policemen came to help. The Salem Evening News, (Friday, July 24, 1914, page 11), had a complete list of all responding departments and where and how they worked to fight the fire.
https://lostnewengland.com/2019/02/railroad-station-salem-mass/