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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner April, 2021 in Scotland

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 8:38 AM

Track fiddler
This bridge is worth writing home about.  I wonder if I could get a job being the Pier Cracks Caulker Up Guy.  It sure looks like it'd be a full-time job. 

I hear they're looking for a painter for the Golden Gate Bridge, too. They'll even give you the brush.


 

More about the Ohio River Henderson bridge, Rahm, Indiana, here: 

 

http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2017/12/csxl-henderson-bridge-across-land-and.html

 


 

 

Hey, Looks like Top of the Page, TOO!

How about an AMTRAK breakfast?

 Breakfast Aboard the Capitol Limited by Craig Sanders, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 8:41 AM

NorthBrit
Wintertime

Now that is scenery I only want to see over the internet. It is beautiful, but the cold would surely kill me if I was there in person!

BigDaddy
Kevin you have dinosaurs running around in Florida

That video has been enhanced and borken down frame-by-frame on several news channels in the area. I don't know what it is.

A few years ago there was a video of a Sea Monster in one of the canals that was all over the news. It looked pretty legitimate. Then a news station took the video to a Marine Biologist at Florida Gulf Coast University, and he just glanced at it and said "That is just a seal, they are unusual in this area, but nothing too extrordinary." The news crew was bummed out, and I have never seen one of these videos presented to a biology professor since then.

howmus
Yep!!!  And the car will let you know in no uncertain terms when you need to "take over"!  Lights flash, loud warnings, and beeps, etc!  It does auto correct for most everything, but the dirver is still supposed to sit in the "driver's seat" and pay attention to what is happening at all times.  That accident that has made all the news recently makes me wonder what the people were smoking in the back seat.....???  LOL  There is no cure for stupidity!

I was under the impression that if Tesla Autopilot did not detect your hands on the steering wheel it would disengage auto-pilot after a few seconds.

I guess that is not true.

York1
Since most of our water lines come in through the basement floors, the water and sewer lines are very deep.

Our water and sewer lines are only a few inches below the surface. It is a constant problem with people damaging the pipes when they install mail boxes. The city is constantly telling people not to drive mailbox posts into the ground, but to carefully dig a whole and set the mailbox in place.

It still happens.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 8:51 AM

Speaking of boats, that is a boatload of bridge informationStick out tongue  Good!  Now I have some reading material for my cold flurry day.  Was that cool looking dude you I thought I saw by the red L&N caboose Ed?

Speaking of bridges, I might just have to dust off my Viaduct one today.  I think I may be feeling a little craftyLaugh

 

Thanks for the Amtrak breakfast and bridge entertainment

 

 

 

TF

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 8:52 AM

gmpullman
Hey, Looks like Top of the Page, TOO! How about an AMTRAK breakfast?

Thanks Ed, that looks like it will hit the spot.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:02 AM

I'll have just coffee this morning.

The snow will all be melted by 10:00 a.m.  Most of what we have is in areas that are shaded from the sun.  The ground had already warmed enough the past weeks that the snow didn't pile up.

While everyone has been talking about vaccines, yesterday I had a shot that I've never had before.  I got a shot right in my knee.  The doctor warned me that it would hurt for a while (he wasn't joking), but today the knee feels much better.  This morning I could actually walk without a cane.

I really miss walking the two miles each morning.  Hopefully, in several weeks, I can get back to that.  My biggest worry was that I would not be able to do my national park hikes this summer.

I have more soldering work today on some more wiring for the crossing signals.  I had no idea when I started them that is would take me this long.  I will be glad to finish them.

On the layout, I have begun to do things that will be able to be taken apart if and when I decide to make a new layout.  At my age, I'm torn between actually starting over with a new and improved layout.  Many times I wish I had started model railroading at a younger age.  I was 67 when I started my first one.  Of course, in my mind I'm still 24 and will live another 130 years.

 

York1 John       

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:07 AM

I officially take over the Tuesday Post Hog title.

David, that video of the Royal Scotsman has convinced me that I need to get to Scotland in the next several years.  Beautiful.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone.

York1 John       

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:09 AM

York1
The snow will all be melted by 10:00 a.m.  Most of what we have is in areas that are shaded from the sun.  The ground had already warmed enough the past weeks that the snow didn't pile up.

It is raining outside again. Rain two days in a row in April is not good. It should still be a few weeks from rainy season, and I planned to get a lot of yard work done before then.

At least this weather is not following the normal seasonal pattern, so hopefully we will be having some dry days soon.

Until then, I just feel like I am wasting valuable time.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:12 AM

gmpullman

That's funny but way off for a guy like me as I am afraid of heights.

What's funny that you mentioned it is my friend Erv's son works for a rater large bridge restoration company.  He is the sand blaster and hangs from a cable harness to do his work.  The painters come in after him working in the same way.  He has worked on the Golden Gate Bridge some years ago.  He makes the big bucks.  A job I admire but would never have the guts to do.

 

 

 

TF

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:16 AM

Good morning .... 

Ed: .... The Capitol Limited breakfast looks yummy. Also, I like the photo of the UP train, and (like you) I wonder about the locomotive ahead of the E9's. 

David UK ..... Thank you for sharing the vidoes. 

TF ..... What? You are a "post Hog"?  .... You? .... LOL 

 

Sunny and cool here today. It seems all of April so far has been cooler than normal. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:26 AM

SeeYou190

I just feel like I am wasting valuable time.

 
When the weather's crappy outside it's prime time to get busy with an MR project Kevin.
 
Like you're custom rolling stock projects you're so good at!
 
 
 
 
 
 
TF
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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 9:39 AM

Post Hog!

 

Heartland Division CB&Q

TF ..... What? You are a "post Hog"?  .... You? .... LOL 

LaughLaughLaugh

Yep!

I have even been officially certified as one GarryLaugh

 

 

 

PirateTF

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:13 AM

gmpullman
Don't know what that thing is stuck on the front of those nice E9s is?

This is the one I saw in the front of the Executive Train in Utah.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:20 AM

SeeYou190
I was under ther impression that if Tesla Autopilot did not detect your hands on the steering wheel it would disengage auto-pilot after a few seconds. I guess that is not true.

What some do not understand is that Autopilot is not "Self Driving".  Autopilot is a warning system to help with safety.  I have Autopilot as it comes with the car standard.  Similar to what is now on most autos....  Full Self Driving is quite different and even then the "driver" is supposed to have hands on the steering wheel at all time and ready to take over.  Something is very fishy about the "accident" in the news.  If I do not react to a warning, the car will take emergency avoidence, but something is just not right from what reliable news media has now reported about the crash.  "Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly stated that the vehicle's Autopilot driver assistance feature was not active at the time of the crash."  Full article: https://news.yahoo.com/fatal-driverless-tesla-crash-autopilot-010946114.html  I remember being told that Autopilot should be able to bring the car to a full safe stop if the driver does not respond, but it does not drive the car for you.....  For autopilot to be active the car has to also be on a road with lines painted for lanes.  That is what the cameras use to determine where the car is.  They were not on a lined road.....  I think a lot more stupidity will be forthcoming about the idiots in the car....

Autopilot is really a sophisticated warning system and does not drive the car for you.

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 11:00 AM

We just bought a Toyota Highlander Hybrid and it has steering assist and speed control. It is designed to help limit fatigue and boy does it work well doing that. 

On some recent trips on the highway, I set the speed at 120 KPH and let the car do the work. You must be touching the wheel or it yells at you but not having to constantly be moving the wheel or adjusting your speed in relation to the other vehicles makes you realize how tiring driving can actually be. I will never be without it again. It is kind of like the first time driving a car with power steering or brakes after the strong arm steering, you just go wow that is so nice. But only an idiot does not pay full attention to the road even with the help.

When I use to fly, I did not turn on the autopilot and have a nap, I always paid 100% attention to what was going on even with the AP on.

To insure this brand new 2021 was only 60% of our 6 year old Mazda 3. I said to the insurance guy, how can that be? He said it is because they are so safe, their accident rate is really low and that means cheaper insurance. 

We have had it three weeks and still have not filled the tank.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:16 PM

Something neat just arrived in the mail.

I finally secured a couple of packages of Walthers Modulars columns. These are the part of the system that is hard to come up with.

Now I need some walls and the rest of the pieces.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:23 PM

Yep Brent...  I too like having the Cruze Control working within the "autopilot"  Nice when on the Thruway here and I can just slide in behind a line of vehicles doing a bit over the speed limit (don't mention that to anybody...LOL) and the car will adjust the distance to be safe and maintain whatever speed changes (up to what I have it set to) automatically.  Only problem is there are those idiots who since I am safely behind the car ahead figure they can squeeze their big ol' Pick-em-up truck (tends to be those guys wid da fahve hunder'd plus HP engines and the big tah'ers) in between and drive about a half a car length behind the car that was ahead of me.  Of course the Tesla just slows down until the safe distance is there and then speeds up to what the line of vehicles are doing.

Yep, I am saving on my insurance costs as well.  My insurance man did switch me to a cheaper company this year as the one I was with figured out I am now 74 years old so they better make more off me before I die...... Whistling

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 1:04 PM

howmus
Only problem is there are those idiots who since I am safely behind the car ahead figure they can squeeze their big ol' Pick-em-up truck (tends to be those guys wid da fahve hunder'd plus HP engines and the big tah'ers) in between and drive about a half a car length behind the car that was ahead of me. 

We only do that to Tesla drivers.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 5:27 PM

A newly restored TBM Avenger had to put down in the ocean.  Nobody hurt but all that salt water....

https://www.businessinsider.com/video-shows-wwii-tbm-avenger-ditching-along-a-florida-beach-2021-4

A DC-3 flew over my house a couple days ago.  It had the US star insignia on the fuselage.

On out walk today we found a cat guarding it's lunch, a still alive baby rabbit.  My wife scooped it up.  It had no visible injuries but died a short while later.

I wasn't a fan of cats before today.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 5:58 PM

BATMAN
We only do that to Tesla drivers.Laugh

No, No....  That is not what I was describing!  Your Pick up truck has way too small wheels and your muffler likely works.  The ones I am talking about have straight pipes up the side of the cab or glasspacks in the same location and when you look out the window of a sedan you are staring at the Axles of the wheels.......  I doubt you would drive a foot behind me at 75 mph pulling that load.....  Hey I used to haul a camper with a 1971 Super Beatle, my friend....  Twas a bit smaller than the one you are hauling. Wink

I doubt you also sit in neutral at stop lights so everyone can hear  Bruuummmm, blop, blop, blop blop, Vvvvrroooooommmmm  Blopp, blopp, booop,  just to be an ........... Clown

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 7:51 PM

Well.... I'm not sure what we're missing today.

It started with sunshine, then rain, then hail, and now snow.  Oh, wait, the sun is out again.  Whatever happens tomorrow will be boring (unless it's a tornado).

York1 John       

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 8:34 PM

Good evening diners.

We had a rainy dreary day again down here. Two days in a row that I have not been getting much done. There is always tomorrow.

Still, this was a really good day, and I am feeling fine right now. Maybe I needed a little bit of a break.

The World Is A Beautiful Place.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 11:10 PM

Good evening ... 

Kevin ..... The best thing about dreary days is they help us appreciate the days that are sunny and beautiful .

 

.....

 

This afternoon we got our boat in the water and at our dock. Just in time for cold rain tonight which may change to snow. 
 
It was a bit of an adventure. A friend drove the boat to the dock from the launch across the bay while I drove the truck and trailer back home. When I got home, he was not there with the boat yet. He ran through a large unmarked fishing net, and it became tangled in the prop . That kept him and our boat in the middle of the bay. Later, the fishermen returned from another bay . They were able to remove their net from the prop. ... It seems like everything gets messed up lately.
 
Everybody:   Have a nice evening.
 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 2:44 AM

This isn't related to model railroading, but I found it to be extremely interesting:

 

 Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 4:18 AM

Good morning Diners.  The temperature is dropping.   A cold few days to look forward to.

John.   There is another 'Touring Train; called  'Northern Belle'.   It is owned by the owners of Venice Simplon-Orient Express.    The Northern Bell does (mainly) day trips.  It is of a similar standard to the Royal Scotsman.

Dave.   he unmistaken sound of the Rolls Royce Merlin.  I remember it well.

 

Thanks for your comments on the films.

 

History.

In 1921/22  the five main Railway Companies  (Glasgow & South Western,  North  British,  Caledonian,  Highland and Great North of Scotland)   new they would be merged.   They wanted to join together and have their headquarters  in Glasgow.

The Powers that be (Government)   said that the GSWR, Caledonian and Highland would join the English Railway Companies (Midland,  and London & North  Western)   to form the London, Midland & Scottish Railway.     The North British & Great North of Scotland  would merge with the English Companies of  North Eastern, Great Central and Great Northern  to form The London & North Eastern Railway.    Both Companies to have Headquarters in London.

Like Queen Victoria,  the Scottish Companies were not amused.  The English Companies did not understand the requirements  neccessary for the railways in Scotland.

 

Today.   Some films of  trains in Scotland.

A compilation video of various freight trains operating around Scotland from 2019.

 

In Fife

 

The West Highland Line to Mallaig.

 

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

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 4:37 AM

NorthBrit
Dave.  The unmistaken sound of the Rolls Royce Merlin.  I remember it well.

Hi David,

That sound is unmistakable. It is like no other.

When I was in my early teens enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, we were invited by one of the local theaters to participate in the presentation of the film 'The Battle of Britain'. I stood at the entrance of the theater in my uniform for many showings of the movie. We were invited to watch the movie once everyone was seated, so I got to hear the sound on the Merlin engines over and over.

Several months later I was riding my bike in downtown Oshawa, Ontario when I heard the unmistakable reverberation of a Merlin engine in the sky. I peddled my ass as fast as I could to the airport which was several miles away, and when I got there, there was an incredibly beautiful original Hawker Hurricane standing in the field. Talk about a childhood thrill! I couldn't believe my eyes!

I'm sorry if I have distracted us from modeling railways, but sometimes we just have to make an exception. That engine won the war! That engine changed the course of history. The people who worked at Rolls Royce deserve to be recognized.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 5:17 AM

Good morning

A cold and Wintery streak up here.  It came as no surprise as I knew April would have a few more.

I resumed my Viaduct bridge yesterday.  I didn't exactly get the styrene I wanted as the plastruct rack at the hobby store was picked through.  The two different ones I got from eBay weren't exactly what I was looking for either but I decided to make do with one of them.  I'm surprised plastruct doesn't sell trim courses in stone.  They should!

York1

It started with sunshine, then rain, then hail, and now snow.  Oh, wait, the sun is out again.  Whatever happens tomorrow will be boring (unless it's a tornado).

 
We're not in Kansas anymore JohnLaugh  Here ya go!
 
 
About three years ago Judy wanted to go see that movie they had re-done in 3D.  I dragged my feet a little bit on the idea but I'm glad I went.  That movie was really cool in 3D.  Only difference is it wasn't quite as scary as when we were Kids.
 
 
Have a great day gentlemanWink
 
 
 
 
 
 
TF
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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 5:25 AM

[quote user="hon30critter"]

 I'm sorry if I have distracted us from modeling railways, but sometimes we just have to make an exception. 

Cheers!!

Dave

 
I am sometimes in the same frame of mind. Smile What with me being  70 years   around Road Haulage  (directly and indirectly).  Then I am involved around  Ships, Canals,  Buses, Trams;   oh and Railways.  I have to remember who I am corresponding with.    ---------------    Then I think  "What the heck!"   I involve them all one way and another.  Big Smile

This film brings back many, many memories  and is a favorite in my collection of films.  (There is a railway in it. Smile)

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 6:39 AM

Track fiddler
A cold and Wintery streak up here.  It came as no surprise as I knew April would have a few more.

Thanks for sending it to the Great Lakes, TF!

 Snow_Cold by Edmund, on Flickr

We're pretty used to it around here, too. Chardon used to hold the annual Maple Festival the weekend following Easter. It would never fail that about six inches or more of wet, slushy snow would hit on at least one of the days. They changed the date to the end of April so the snow just stayed around longer!

I got a chuckle while working under the layout last night. I often make little notes up in the crossmembers:

 Cold_Snow by Edmund, on Flickr

Looks like there was a little snow when I was making the changeover to DCC back in April of 2005! Bit of a cold spell in 2014, too. I remember the cold snap. Lots of frozen pipes at W**K!

Stay safe and warm everybody!

 Zephyr in winter wonderland by Mike Danneman, on Flickr

 

  Cake  Amtrak's almost FIFTY! Cake

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 6:49 AM

gmpullman

 Zephyr in winter wonderland by Mike Danneman, on Flickr

Not a problem Ed. I always like to shareWhistling

MusicDieseling in my winter wonderlandMusic Laugh

 

 

 

TF

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 6:58 AM

Track fiddler
 Not a problem Ed. I always like to  share.   TF
 

 
 
Most times what you have, we get 3 or 4 days later.    Thanks!
 
 
David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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