NorthBritDave. 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!
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
This isn't related to model railroading, but I found it to be extremely interesting:
Good evening ...
Kevin ..... The best thing about dreary days is they help us appreciate the days that are sunny and beautiful .
.....
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
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.
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
BATMANWe 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.
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 ...........
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
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
howmusOnly 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.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
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......
73
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.
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.
SeeYou190I 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.
gmpullmanDon'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.
Post Hog!
Heartland Division CB&Q TF ..... What? You are a "post Hog"? .... You? .... LOL
TF ..... What? You are a "post Hog"? .... You? .... LOL
Yep!
I have even been officially certified as one Garry
TF
SeeYou190 I just feel like I am wasting valuable time.
I just feel like I am wasting valuable time.
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.
Sunny and cool here today. It seems all of April so far has been cooler than normal.
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.
York1The 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.
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.
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.
gmpullmanHey, Looks like Top of the Page, TOO! How about an AMTRAK breakfast?
Thanks Ed, that looks like it will hit the spot.
Speaking of boats, that is a boatload of bridge information 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 crafty
Thanks for the Amtrak breakfast and bridge entertainment
NorthBritWintertime
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!
BigDaddyKevin 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.
howmusYep!!! 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.
York1Since 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.
Track fiddlerThis 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
Good morning diners. I am still waking up early for some reason. Chloe, I will take a black coffee and a couple of glazed donuts.
hon30critterI am really surprised that the gas line is only a few inches under the surface. To me, that is just inviting disaster.
It seems that way to me too. I cannot possibly believe a gas line that close to the surface is OK.
I am just going to bury it back the way it was, just 7 inches shorter. I don't like it, but what else can I do?
NorthBritOur next film is 'The Royal Scotsman' By special permission the Diner is at the front of the train.
Wow, that was beautiful. The scenery is perfect and the train is gorgeous.
Thank you for that one.
Good morning
More video goodies, Thanks David
Sunday was 54 degrees and I took my car out with the windows down for a nice long enjoyable ride. Monday it was Winter again and snow flurries
gmpullman Jim Pearson by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Jim Pearson by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
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 would just need a flat boat with a scissor lift.
A good day for something on the layout as cold and more snow flurries predicted.
ricktrains4824then I can get to building the new, improved (bigger too!) layout. Settled on a 12X12 L shaped layout, with a staging connection off the right side. I'm going for loop style that will support both continuous and point-to-point style operation,
RickyW, this sounds great. Maybe once you start, you could start a thread with photos of the progress. I love those threads on this forum.
hon30critterOur gas lines are at least four feet below the surface, but that is because the ground freezes almost down to that level in the winter. If the gas lines were any closer to the surface the frost would eventually heave them out of the ground when the ground is thawing in the spring.
Even though we are farther south, we have the same issues here. My brother, who lives in Georgia, will talk about our bumpy streets and sidewalks. I told him that going from +40°F to -35°, then to +50°, all in three weeks during our spring thaw does not help.
I think our gas lines are about three feet underground.
Since most of our water lines come in through the basement floors, the water and sewer lines are very deep.
ricktrains4824Now, my area's weather forecast is calling for 6-12" of snow... Just pulled the plow blade off the ATV too....
We have backup!
Kioti_Snow by Edmund, on Flickr
Still got the wood stove cooking, too. 3-5 inches tomorrow! We're tough
Almost * what a passenger train is supposed to look like:
Special on the Cutoff by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
* Don't know what that thing is stuck on the front of those nice E9s is???