Good morning
Looks like a great trip Kevin! I enjoyed the last 'Tour-De-USA-Grand Tour' you took. I gotta say I kinda envy you as my road trip isn't planned till next winter. I like to escape the Klondike and get somewhere warm and it didn't happen this last winter because of the covid and all.
I better refrain my from my procrastinatory tendencies and lick a stamp here. We're going to visit my son to watch my grandson graduate from high school on the 28th of May for the better part of the week. It doesn't look like that overlaps schedules for the possibility of lunch
Yesterday was my annual spring car care seminar. It was such a beautiful day I crawled around in the parking lot all day giving attention to the rocker panels on my truck. The salt in the winter is so heavy on the roads up here, some repair and upkeep on the Rhino Liner helps from the salt eating your truck.
My trucks an 02. I don't like car payments so I keep up on all the maintenance faithfully on my 4 runner equipment. Well over 200,000 miles and she still looks good and running strong.
Judy has a few days off so I woke up at 6:30 this morning instead of my normal 4 a.m. streak. That parking lot took a toll. The muscles in my arms and legs feel like they aged overnight and I'm moving around like a tortoise today
Make it a great Friday everyone
TF
Track fiddler We're going to visit my son to watch my grandson graduate from high school on the 28th of May for the better part of the week. It doesn't look like that overlaps schedules for the possibility of lunch
We are not leaving until May 30th. We will be in Minnesota on Tuesday, June 8th.
I could not follow the original plan and stay in Wisconsin for a day. I needed to cut one night from the run to Seattle, and since the hotels in Wisconsin are so expensive, that made it an easy choice! They priced themselves out of my hotel night and tourist dollars.
Plus, I have seen everything in Wisconsin from visiting my Grandmother when I was young.
Not sure what time we will be rolling by, but it will be later than lunch.
Our hotel that night is in Saint Cloud.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Then Dinner It Is! I like Saint Cloud and it's only 50 minutes away from us. We will be returning on the 2nd or 3rd at the latest.
I know you run a tight schedule on your USA road trips. I suppose one would have to. It would be a shame to skip Duluth on a visit to Minnesota though. I would drive right through and skip Minneapolis all together. Too many bad 's around.
The Twin Ports is really something to see and everything to miss, especially The Depot I go up there frequently and never get tired of it and St Cloud is only two hours and 20 minutes away.
It's too bad the bank repossessed the hotel Judy works at. The first owners, Judy could get hotel rooms for friends and family for $40 a night. The second owners she could get the same for $60. It has to do with any hotel affiliated with the Hilton but the bank is greedy. She doesn't get a discount except for us anymore.
Well drive safely your on your Trek and don't forget to Click-It
Kevin ... With a schedule like you are planning, I know you can not see everything. However, I am making suggestions anyhow. In Lower Peninsula of Michigan, worthwhile attractions include the following ( south to north). Henry Ford Museum and village (Dearborn). Huckleberry Railroad and village (north of Flint). Frankenmuth, the German town with Christmas theme ( farther north if Flint ). Petosky.
Frankenmuth has two huge German restaurants offering a very unique dining experiance. They have the best chicken recipe anywhere.
Hucklebury Railroad has a narrow gauge passenger train with a Rio Grande steam locomotive from Colorado.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Heartland Division CB&QHuckleberry Railroad and village (north of Flint). Frankenmuth, the German town with Christmas theme ( farther north if Flint ).
These look like great ideas! I start that day in Kalamazoo. I can make it to Huckleberry by noon and see some sights, then have a late lunch in Frankenmuth. Then I think I can make it to the burger place near Mackinaw suggested by Water Level Route before they close.
Thank you!
Good Afternoon,
I'm sitting drinking tea with honey. I picked up the little urn today from the vet. This is really tearing me up.
Ed, thanks for the update on Ken. Glad to hear he is feeling better.
Kevin, sounds like a great trip. Curious as to why you don't use your own car. I will never govon a long road trip as my wife hates long drives.
We bought some plants yesterday even though it is too early to plant them. The nurseries are very busy 2 weeks earlier than normal.
CN Charlie
Good afternoon from a sunny and warm West Coast.
Not doing much today as eating the sugar-laden goodies my daughter made has me on the pain train. My own fault for sure. People take anti-inflammatories and eating sugar is the same as taking inflammatories. I'll learn someday.
We have done a few road trips where we rent a car and just go until we get tired of traveling and decide it is time to go home. We just go to the airport, hand in the car and get on a plane and come home. You never have to worry how far from home you are going as it is just a plane ride away. A convertible Mustang is what we would rent when heading South to warmer places.
That Mackinac Island looks like a cool place to stay for a few days, bikes only, I like that a lot. I took a tour with Google Maps, also did the Mackinaw bridge on Google Maps, the construction slowed us down a bit.
Last time we went to Yosemite to hike we just left as there were so many people there it was a gong show. Nowhere to park, staying overnight was not going to happen, there was a field that was wall to wall tents, it looked like a refugee camp, it was armpit to armpit.
Ed, thanks for checking on Ken. I have done three roofs in my time, two asphalt, one cedar, it is a young man's job for sure. For the first time ever I hired someone to wash all our windows last year and will be doing it again this summer.
Heartland Division CB&Q Howdy everybody. Brent ... I read your post yesterday about your airport job. Interesting . It would be hard to retire from such a good job. I recall when 747's were still somewhat new. They were sometimes used in US domestic flights . I had one flight on one on Northwest Airlines and it was only at about 20% of seats occupied.
Howdy everybody.
Brent ... I read your post yesterday about your airport job. Interesting . It would be hard to retire from such a good job.
I recall when 747's were still somewhat new. They were sometimes used in US domestic flights . I had one flight on one on Northwest Airlines and it was only at about 20% of seats occupied.
Thanks Garry
The 747 was the aircraft of choice on flights from Vancouver to Hawaii for years. The first time I went was in 1976 and would go twice a year quite often usually in October and then again in late January or February. One flight back there were only six passengers on board and 17 crew members.
My job was an experience for sure and certainly not something most would enjoy. I met a lot of interesting well known, high-profile people over the years. I was not confined to the airport and would also go to the docks and railyards which I loved. My office was at the airport and I always started my day there. I would take new employees with me for a couple of weeks just to ease them in so they did not get overwhelmed and they would often comment that they had no idea that all the stuff we did under the radar ever went on. Endless stories to tell. The job had me sitting in a hotel room chatting with Bob Hope for about 90 minutes once, just me and him. there were some others as well I got to sit a chat with but for never as long as I chatted with Bob Hope for. I think he talked politics the whole time.
Well not movin much today, I think I'll go lay in the sun for a while and work on my tan.
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."
Good evening
Your son Cole sure seems to be a great Kid Dave. Isn't that cool how it works that he built the same patio overhead as you did.
When I first pulled up to my son's first house I noticed right away how green and lush his lawn looked from the Scotts fertilizer. He had the little gold hooks up on the roof line that stay up all year just like I did to make hanging Christmas lights quick and easy. Now he has a red and black Corvette just like my red and black Mustang.
It makes you feel good how they take after you and all the things you taught them stick.
Well Judy wants go to the drive-in again tonight and there's better movies this week. The first one is Mall Cop with Kevin James, I've seen it before but I like Kevin. He's an overgrown Kid, a good quality to have. I think the other Kevin's like that too In fact I think we all are The second movie is War With Grandpa with Robert De Niro. I don't know how any De Niro movie couldn't be good.
We picked up shish kabobs at the deli to grill and have plenty of snacks, popcorn and candy of coarse.
Have a great evening y'all
POST HOG!!!!!!
Someone just dropped off a bottle of Bourbon to thank me for a favour I did for them and I just realized I don't think I have ever had bourbon. I need to do some research on how it is to be consumed.
Anyone have an electric steam loco on the layout?
POST HOG!!!
Judy got me a new Drive-Inn T-shirt in case they're not open next year.
The kabobs are done!
If ya were here I'd give ya one
SeeYou190 Heartland Division CB&Q Huckleberry Railroad and village (north of Flint). Frankenmuth, the German town with Christmas theme ( farther north if Flint ). These look like great ideas! I start that day in Kalamazoo. I can make it to Huckleberry by noon and see some sights, then have a late lunch in Frankenmuth. Then I think I can make it to the burger place near Mackinaw suggested by Water Level Route before they close. Thank you! -Kevin
Heartland Division CB&Q Huckleberry Railroad and village (north of Flint). Frankenmuth, the German town with Christmas theme ( farther north if Flint ).
Kevin ..... Kalamazoo is where I attended college at Western Michigan University. It has been a long time since I have been there, however. ..... Frankenmuth has lots of gift shops. Bronner's Christmas store is gigantic. Downtown shops are next to the big restaurants I mentioned. Between Bronner's and downtown is a German sausage shop if you like authentic German sausage. ...
Safety:
Just the New York Central and for only six months —
NYC_deaths_1930 by Edmund, on Flickr
Dangerous job allright!
RDG, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1936 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Reading shop switcher. Reading, Penna. Looks like a couple of old headlights used for lighting the turntable mounted on the roof of the roundhouse.
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanReading shop switcher.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
BATMANI don't think I have ever had bourbon. I need to do some research on how it is to be consumed.
In New Orleans!
I am extra tired tonight. No special reason why.
I finished the front garden today. All the plantings are new except for the Sea Grapes. They appear to be coming back in OK.
It looks like my trees have sprouted to life this week.
The Loquat tree that was trimmed so far back because of black rot has suddenly had new signs of life coming from it.
The Royal Poinciana also has a lot of new leaves all of a sudden within the last week.
And... the Frangiapani has sprung to life. I hope it blooms this year. All the others in the neighborhood are already in full bloom.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
(even with kudzu)
BATMAN ....and I just realized I don't think I have ever had bourbon. I need to do some research on how it is to be consumed
Made it home from the drive-inn and 'War With Grandpa' was pretty funny. I like De Niro.
Need directions on how to consume it Come on Brent, you ought to be a professional by now. You put the lime in the Coke and you shake it all up
I'm tired and I don't know why Come on Kevin you've been working hard, and those planter boxes look great
Rack Time
Bear: Great toon!
Track fiddlerI'm tired and I don't know why Come on Kevin you've been working hard, and those planter boxes look great
Thank you.
I really did not do much today. Just cement the capstones on and put down the mulch. Then I admired it for a couple of hours. Maybe that is what wore me out!
All the work you did prior to the caps and mulch, while you were admiring it, It finally caught up with you
Get a good night's rest Kid. You'll feel refreshed in the morning
Welcome to the weekend —
Here's one for the bridge guy:
WM, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1975 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
What an interesting scene. Caboose at the head end. TOFC with what? [truck bodies] as a load? Another train in the distance. These scenes have evaporated from the North American railroads. Such a pity.
Who likes F's?
EL, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1975 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Time to turn in. It is a cold and rainy day here. Good sleeping weather. We STILL have the wood stove fired up. It was 43° last night — brrr.
Love the bridge Ed. I'm a little baffled though. I'll start with some humor first this morning. That must be one heavy caboose and one heavy truck trailer Maybe an undercover sneaky delivery of bullion to Fort Knox
But I can't for the life of me determine what the rust colored heavy-looking weight things on the top of the tall poles is for? Can't see any other apparatus or reason for bridge counterbalance. Very unfamiliar!
Don't Know?
P.S. Maybe Maryland Western RR really admired this!
And thought they could out do the law of physics with more weight
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
Another day of sitting around. Physical therapist says that next week, I can start getting back to normal -- slowly! I don't like physical therapists. I want them to give me a pill that allows me to get back to normal in about a half-hour.
More layout work today. Have a good day, everyone.
Union Station on the right and Burlington station on the left, in Omaha in 1937:
York1 John
gmpullmanWe STILL have the wood stove fired up. It was 43° last night — brrr.
Yep! Here it is the second week in May and the current temperature outside in the Finger Lakes Region is 42°F at the moment with a high of 53° later. At least I am not wasting electricity running the Air Conditioner yet....... Getting tired of wearing flannel shirts though....
Caught another mousie down on the layout a couple days ago. Have some major cleaning to do before I do anything else. They left lots of little calling cards and nibbled on a bit of scenery where it is noticable. Maybe I should run some trains and scare them away???
Couple weeks from now the Museum will be opening up for rides finally. I will likely sign on for car host for it at least one of the days that weekend. Will be good to get back on the trains.
Stay Safe out there!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon Diners. An Americano with a little sugar, Chloe, please. That coffee cake looks inviting. A piece of that as well.
TF. Send us some nice warm weather. It is icy cold, sleety rain here.
Bear Like the Toon.
Kevin How do you keep going? I get tired just reading about what you are doing. Looking good though.
Took Dawn to the local Health Center. Second time this week. A bad week of news for her. A case of picking herself up (again) and dusting herself down.
I shall run a few trains this afternoon.
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
NorthBrit TF. Send us some nice warm weather. It is icy cold, sleety rain here. David
POST HOG!
Well I'm off to see my daughter's for a barbecue.
Have a good afternoon everyone
Hello, all. Still cold and rainy here. Maybe it's my fault for buying that new John Deere? (It does have a snow blower, though )
Track fiddlerBut I can't for the life of me determine what the rust colored heavy-looking weight things on the top of the tall poles is for?
I can't quite pinpoint what you're asking about, TF? The utility poles? Rust colored, as in insulators?
Bridge_crop by Edmund, on Flickr
I recall seeing utility truck bodies with "READING" across the tailgate. I'll bet these were from them.
https://www.readingbody.com/
Were we talking about distressed gondolas in the Diner or was it another thread? I finally found the one I was working on buried in the staging yard. I know Dave was in on the conversation:
CRIP_Mill-gon-distressed by Edmund, on Flickr
Now I've got to remember where I put the grab irons and sill steps
Cheers, Ed
not sure if i missed it, but there's no mention of the Yeungling Brewery (oldest in country) in Pottsville
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
gmpullmanWere we talking about distressed gondolas in the Diner or was it another thread? I finally found the one I was working on buried in the staging yard. I know Dave was in on the conversation:
Hi Ed,
Yes, I was in on the conversation. I have purchased several gons since then with the intention of bashing them up a bit. I also purchased a small butane torch precisely for the purpose.
Your gon looks to be severely abused! I'm not sure if I should feel sorry for it!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Greg .... Thanks for posting the picture Yeungling Brewery ....
Ed ...... That gondola looks to be in bad condition. I know real gondolas tend to have more damage to them than other types of freight cars. Much of the damage is from hauling scrap metal.
John York 1 ..... The picture of Omaha shows how easy it was for passengers to change trains between UP and CB&Q. Rail travel was much better before Amtrak.
Everybody ..... Have a nice evening.
hon30critterI also purchased a small butane torch precisely for the purpose.
I mentioned in the prior thread a heat gun for crafters that I find handy for seversal tasks, similar to this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Mlife-Shrinking-Embossing-Multifunctional-Hand-hold/dp/B08DNRJ3PS/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=heat+gun+for+crafts&qid=1620517865&s=hi&sr=1-16
I also have a nice Dremel butane torch for soldering brass and such but for softening plastic I think the heat gun worked out very well for me.
I need to "weather" some heavy rust spots on there, too. A recent conversation on a PRR forum mentioned cars that got so hot from loading billets and pig iron that the paint burned off and the only way to find the car number was to look on the truck bolster!