Good evening everyone.
It has been an eerily quiet day in my neighborhood. Normally on Saturday there is lawn equipment running, kids playing in pools, backyard activities, or something.
There has not been one noise I have heard all day.
I appreciate peace and quiet, but this just feels like there is something wrong.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Saddened to hear about Dusty Hill.
ZZ Top was an hour late to the concert I attended at the Minnesota State Fair about 5-7 years ago.
It was worth the wait and they said you could hear the band 7 miles away that night and a lot of people complained.
Judy and I weren't complaining.
Thanks for all the great music Dusty
TF
Good Evening,
TF. thanks for the kind words. I wish you were here today under the umbrella. We could have a few G&Ts to keep the heat away and discuss the DW&P.
It wasn't too smoky here today and there might be a shower tomorrow but it is supposed to be quite hot. No plans to do anything.
Time for tea and tellie. We watch East Enders I have to admit and have been doing so for 30 years. I record the episodes so we can zap the commercials. I'm sure Brit Dave knows all about East Enders.
CN Charlie
Track fiddler Miss post
Miss post
Who is Miss Post ?
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Now this is a little slice of railroading we all miss:
Batimore & Ohio Railroad Depot - Olney Illinois - July 4th, 1966 by Historic Railroad Images of the Vincennes Area, on Flickr
Down by the depot all right. I wonder if a veteran is coming home (girlfriend or sister behind the Impala?) 1966 could be Viet Nam? Probably the whole town's American Legion post in attendance. The Lincoln with suicide doors. Wow, I could spend hours here!
Danville_Olney-Ohio-River-RR_crop by Edmund, on Flickr
I used to have a mail box just like the one on the concrete post.
Here's what's left today:
Olney_IL by Edmund, on Flickr
Just a hint of platform on the right of the track in the distance.
Cheers, Ed
My wife just got off the phone with our niece.
Apparently my sister in law had another stroke today. I don't know how they know this since she was still sedated. It was minor, and of course it was attended to immediately.
I wish we knew what to expect, but all we are being told is that we need to wait and see. Time will tell.
To me, this does not sound good.
I had no idea that multiple strokes were possible from Covid.
Morning
Didn't sleep well, tossed and turned all night. I hate when that happens. Wide awake at 4:00 is just too early to be up. I have something to do today but I can't make noise for quite a while.
I'm unfamiliar with EastEnders Charlie so I looked it up on Amazon Prime to give it a whirl this morning, unfortunately it was unavailable.
I'm going to make a small key lock box cabinet for the building today. Someone vandalized the other one last week. The UPS guys and realtors use it to get in the building.
I liked the old depot photo Ed. Things sure change over the years, that's for sure. Some more cool cars. I like the Lincolns with suicide doors as well
I'm so sorry to hear the horrible news Kevin. We will keep sending prayers and keep hoping for the best.
John
Good morning Diners. The usual tea and toast please, Flo.
East Enders. Not for me. I stopped watching soaps years ago. IMO they are too miserable to watch. There is a joke around here that one of the cast members got sacked for smiling!!
___________________________________
I went to the first model railway show in our area, yesterday. It was good to see old store owner friends again. Bought a few items and commissioned some painting to be done.
The owner of The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society was there selling his books. Everytime I had seen him previously I had a chat with him, but he did not have any books I required.
Yesterday, he said he was closing down his business and taking a well earned retirement. He told me he had some books for me. Lo and behold he had five books I was after.
Whenever I have seen them elsewhere they have been second hand, worse for wear and expensive. These are brand new.
The books about The Border Counties Railway is The North British Railway line in Northumberland. The other three books are the former North Eastern Railway in Northumberand.
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Kevin. Continued prayers for your SIL.
Back later. 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
An Audio article on the North British Locomotive Company and the locomotives they built.
Good Sunday morning, everyone.
The kids and grandkids all still sleeping. We had a good night at the county fair, and everyone is worn out. They all leave today.
This afternoon I get to see Big Boy make a short stop near here!
What is the scheduled time period for this week's railroad pictures?
For everyone who has or knows someone with health issues, my thoughts are with you.
York1 John
York1 What is the scheduled time period for this week's railroad pictures?
As it is day 8 I suggest we move to the 1900 - 1950 timeframe.
On Day 16 1950 - 1980
On Day 24 1980 - 2021
NorthBrit Not for me. I stopped watching soaps years ago.
I have watched The Young And The Restless since before I was in High School. I have been a fan for at least 40 years. I chose the right one. There are only four or five Soap Operas (daily serial dramas) left on television.
NorthBrit As it is day 8 I suggest we move to the 1900 - 1950 timeframe. On Day 16 1950 - 1980 On Day 24 1980 - 2021
This works for me. Since brent has not been around to give us rules (this month's format was his suggestion), I am going to follow Dave's lead move to 1900-1950.
Railroading to the Florida Keys:
I know I posted this several weeks ago, but it is one of my favorites.
An engineer poses with a brand new Pontiac and the Burlington Zephyr in Lincoln, NE, on November 23, 1940:
SeeYou190Railroading to the Florida Keys:
Kevin, I've always wanted to drive that route out to Key West. I don't think I will ever make it. I did get to Key West on a ship, but I always wanted to see the bridges.
Good Morning,
It is nice here beside the pond with the sound of the waterfall. Later it will be very hot but there is nice shade here from a pine tree.
John, For some reason I was surprised you haven't driven to Key West. It likely is the only place in the US I have driven to but you haven't. In Nov/73 I drove from London, Ont where I was living, right to Key West in my '73 Nova coupe. It was a fun trip I did with a good friend from uni days who sadly is no longer with us.
A gold finch just landed on a feeder about 4' from me. We get a lot of them here.
Think I will make another coffee and enjoy this spot a little longer.
NorthBrit As it is day 8 I suggest we move to the 1900 - 1950 timeframe. On Day 16 1950 - 1980 On Day 24 1980 - 2021 David
SeeYou190This works for me. Since brent has not been around to give us rules (this month's format was his suggestion)
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
York1Kevin, I've always wanted to drive that route out to Key West. I don't think I will ever make it. I did get to Key West on a ship, but I always wanted to see the bridges.
I have only driven to Key West one time.
Since the Ferry started operating between Fort Myers and Key West, this is just a much better way to make the trip, and I have lifetime free passage on the ferry!
It is only 5 hours, we can eat, watch a movie, or play games.
Driving vs. Ferry:
1905 shot of Illinos central building bridge over TN river.
this span has been replaced twice, first replacement was when they built the dam and put the tracks on the dam.(1944) Next replacement was when P&L took the tracks off the dam and built a new bridge down stream of the dam. (2009) the new span is not too far from 1905 crossing.
The 1905 bridge was flaoted up stream in 1944 and is used in the now CSX crossing futher up the lake.
Kevin, still sending prayers for you SIL.
My maple tree thinks it is fall already. it has started to turn red.
SeeYou190 I have only driven to Key West one time. Since the Ferry started operating between Fort Myers and Key West, this is just a much better way to make the trip, and I have lifetime free passage on the ferry!
Most ferries are delightful. But, we took the now defunct high speed catamaran from Portland, Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. It was billed in its advertising as some sort of luxury cruise. Actually, it was more like being packed into a giant, crowded airplane for six hours. You couldn't go out on deck because the ferry really was too fast. The inside seating was arranged into 4 sections like theaters, each with a loud movie blaring from loudspeakers. Loading and unloading cars took hours, and customs at both end took more hours.
I wasn't surprised when they went out of business.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hello Railfans!
Top of the morning to yas! It is my wish that all are doing well. Still kicking and paying taxes here! I know its only August, and this used to be the hottest time of the year here on the right coast, but its been very mild the last week. Almost as if fall is teasing. Jackets required at night.
Not much happening in the hobby, been putzing around with a few models. Mostly waiting on some detail parts to show up. Had some ordered only to get a 'refund' because for some reason the parts for sale.... werent for sale at all. Seems to be a recurring theme these days.
The parts that did show up, some are already on the models. The rest are in the procrastination bin waiting for me to get off my duff. You know how that goes. I did get a bunch of decals in. However the new airbrush rig I ordered came in wrong. I can imagine this taking weeks to get fixed. I wonder if times like this are the main ingrediant in procrastination?
Ive been looking for good brands of paint. My how things have changed in this arena.... and not for the better. Hopefully in a couple months Ill be spraying. We shall see.
Well, thats pretty much it from the sticks. Have a great evening everyone!
Clear Ahead!
Douglas
Good evening, everyone (evening in North America, anyway).
Great day! Went to see UP's Big Boy 4014 this afternoon.
The little town has an official population of 48, although I think that's a stretch. Of course, with this train stopping, the population grew to probably 500.
Big Boy stopped for about a half-hour. The train even had some hopper cars and a Union Pacific caboose!
Lots of kids, old railroad people, hobbyists, etc., all out having a great time.
Since I was looking into the sun with a cheap camera, the photo is not the best:
I also took this short video (about 1½ minutes) -- again not high quality video, but you get the idea.
Hey, John
Mrs. Pullman is visiting her sister over in Sterling, 'bout 60 miles east of you. Big state, Nebraska — small world, though Wish I knew about 4014 going through I would have sent her out on a mission with the camera.
Her BIL works for BNSF so he probably could have gotten the low-down but I didn't think to ask.
Lots of railroad expansion in the early teens:
NY_Connecting-HellGate by Edmund, on Flickr
Detroit_Tunnels by Edmund, on Flickr
GR and I_Petoskey_1908 by Edmund, on Flickr
Thanks for posting that John, I would drive a few miles myself to see that engine in action.
I got a last-minute reprieve from the baseball tourney as my friend manage to scramble back from the family crises for the closing day of the tourney. Still not feeling great but the wife gave me some CBD oil with a splash of THC last night. It made a huge improvement overnight to my back to the point I went out and worked in the garden today and got back on the recumbent bike after 11 days off. That felt great.
Week two 1900s to the 1950s, my second favourite time period.
My favourite pic from that era would be this one. Vancouver's CPR coaling trestle and RH. Usually, if you click on it a bunch you can really zoom in. There is lots of details in this photo. The photo graces a whole wall in "The City of Vancouver Archives".
After over two months we had 48 hrs of rain and that was so nice. Everything smells fresh and clean again and the foliage is all smiling. Back to sunshine and temps in the high 20s (mid-80s) for the foreseeable future now. We will have good weather until mid-October and that is when I turn the furnace back on. I turn it off at the end of April for 5 1/2 months. All the doors and windows stay open for most of that time.
Field B.C. Note the rings in the TT pit. RH steam piped in to melt the snow and ice.
All the best to all.
Here is something in Florida from 1900-1950.
This is the Ferdinand Magellan, the train car used by FDR in at least one presidential campaign.
The car is now preserved/restored and on display in the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami.
SeeYou190This is the Ferdinand Magellan, the train car used by FDR in at least one presidential campaign.
More than campaigns, this was FDR's primary form of domestic transport. I have a nice model of it in HO:
IMG_8227_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
The car was used during some of Churchill's U.S. visits and I've placed Clementine, Winston, the porter, Eleanor and FDR on the platform here, on their way to Hyde Park:
IMG_8223_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Ronald Reagan used U.S. No. 1 for a short, Ohio campaign trip on October 12, 1984.
Fun Times, Ed
Great modelling Ed! I'm not sure if Churchill was quite that corpulent but I'm splitting hairs.
I have to confess to being a bit of a Churchill admirer. There was a movie made years ago called 'Young Winston' which documented his early life and his military career as well as his start in politics. It was quite fascinating although the abuse he suffered in boarding school was terrible. Perhaps that was what made him as strong a man as he was. He was a bit of a nut case though. He was known to have received a few foreign dignitaries dressed only in a bath robe! His hobby was building brick walls, and he regularly spoke to his mother long after she had passed on. Heaven knows where the world would be now without him!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Continuing to go through old pictures.
I found a picture of my first professional toolbox I bought in 1986. I think I took this picture the day I bought it.
20 years later, I still had the same top chest on my toolbox set up.
And now in 2021, it is retired and in my garage.
The toolbox is loyal!
Top of the evening to yas! Hello again folks, passing through on my way to raid the fridge before the sandman visits. Couple of things of interest to pass along before i grab the last piece of choco cake.
Batman) Id have to agree with you the panorama shot of CPRs Vancouver coaling trestle, that is an awesome shot! I am curious though - why the bracing is only one way? Not that it would happen, but if it did.... seems like that would fall like a stack of dominoes.
The piping in the turntable pit was interesting too. Hadnt seen that before. And as much snow as Michigan gets, Id thought i would have seen it on the PM. Both great shots!
Ed) Ive said it before but you seem to have a knack for posting shots I like to see. The 'Detroit Tunnels' made my day. Reminds me of the triple crossing in south Richmond Va. I know the Railroads hated it, but i love a conjested looking area.
Your pics of the Obs. car gave me an idea for a future Diner theme.... famous cars. We usually glorify a proud locomotive, but rarely do you see fanfare over a certain car/s.
Kevin) I wasn't liking your garage pic too much. Reason - theres no BUICK GN wrapped in bubble wrap parked in there next to the retired toolbox. Then I noticed a spray booth and workbench. Silly me.... alls well now!
Best wishes to your SIL on a most speedy of recoveries!
John York) Ya lucky dog you! Thats a loco you wont ever see around here. Or any steam for that matter. NS country ya know - they hate steam (and Railfans)!
Im not a fan of anything west of the Mississippi, but for UP's steam program.... I been thinking if I could actually get away from here, that would definately be on the list!
Now if only someone had the cahoonas to restore an Allegheny!
Lastly) A couple of months ago i remarked on coming across an ad for a $5,000 plus Lionel Berkshire. Still dont know why a model train is worth more than a car.
A month ago I sent my younger brother a screenshot of an ad for a $700 TyCo train set. The standard 1 loco, 3 cars, circle of track and the ever popular gold transformer with the sliding throttle. Who knew???? Had I known, Id have kept mine and bought more!
Tonight, i found this.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Walthers-Proto-85-P-S-Dorm-Diner-C-O-RBLT-Plan-4165-Blue-Ridge-Club-Geo-Wash-/114921732284?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
Now, most of you know these are the colors of my flag - so i took a look. But what i dont get is... is this a one off model? Did Walthers make one out of gold and not tell me? Does it serve real food? Have working brakes and couplers?
Im not moaning about the, ahem, price here.... im just wondering 1) why is this more than my house payment, 2) is this how things are to be in the hobby for the near future and beyond? 3) will they take a check? 4) just add water and it grows to full size? 5) it comes with its own layout? 6) Should I change flags?
I guess the point is - ya see the darndest things float by sometimes. Then ya see things like this.
Goodnyt everyone!
A#1 North!
Good morning Diners. A quick visit.
'Richboro' built 1917 on the An Valley Heritage Railway
Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class locomotive 34051 'Winston Churchill' built 1946 now at 'Locomotion', Shildon, County Durham.
PM Railfan A couple of months ago i remarked on coming across an ad for a $5,000 plus Lionel Berkshire. Still dont know why a model train is worth more than a car.
Hey, why not a few lengths of M-E rail to go with that order? Only $3,042.99 + $250 shipping.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294216638431?hash=item4480ad9fdf:g:rU0AAOSwlWNgvzd9
On sale, too, 7% off! Stock up!
hon30critterGreat modelling Ed! I'm not sure if Churchill was quite that corpulent but I'm splitting hairs.
He's standing in unflattering light, Dave. Makes him look a little more rotund than in real life!
US1_plus by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm also a great admirer of the Churchill-FDR relationship. Things would have surely been quite different had those two not have been the close friends they were.
I heard the story when Mr. Churchill had stepped out of the bath and confronted FDR he was actually in his alltogether.
"You see, Mr. President, I've nothing to hide."
I've seen many documentaries and newsreels on both gentlemen. You can not be a student of one without understanding the relationship of the other.
I sure recall seeing a newsreel of Winston out with the people of London after a particularly nasty bombing. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. Mr. Churchill was a truly compassionate person. Likewise, FDR calmed a nation with his Fireside Chats.
If I had one wish granted me before passing it would have been to sit in on one of the late night chats between these two leaders, FDR tending the drinks, Mr. Churchill enjoying a cigar while regailing stories of days gone by.
That is the reason I HAD to have a model of the Ferdinand Magellan. My ultimate goal would be to have a complete train as it was dispatched from Warm Springs, Georgia, through Washington D.C., and on to New York — then up the Hudson River to Hyde Park on that April day in 1945.
FDR_1945_Hyde_Park by Edmund, on Flickr
NYCRR Photo
I have all the cars and the Hudson locomotive, just need to make that last car, the Conneaut, (A city near me in Ohio, BTW) which carried Franklin Roosevelt's casket since the 3" thick window glass couldn't easily be removed from the Ferdinand Magellan to get the coffin inside.
This should all fit in to the theme of 1900 to 1950 events for the Diner
Regards, Ed
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee please, Brunhilda.
Life is just about back to normal here. Family is gone, no vacations in the near future, and it's hot and humid. We are nervous because we're babysitting a neighbor's dog, but that will end Wednesday. Several doctor's appts and we can take the rest of the month off.
Charlie, that's interesting that you drove to Key West back then. That's quite a trip, especially in a new Nova!
Brent, I'm sure you enjoyed helping with the baseball teams. I've never coached baseball, but did coach some coed softball teams of teens. I had to break the boys of the idea that they would hit a homerun everytime they were up to bat.
Kevin, that's probably a neat ferry ride to Key West. That reminds me of another Florida location -- I've always wanted to take a boat out to the Dry Tortugas National Park to see Ft. Jefferson. I doubt at this stage of life if I will ever get to do that:
MLC, that's a pretty neat picture of the bridge being built. It's amazing that a bridge this size and age was moved and still functions.
MisterBeasley, that ferry ride would be a nightmare to me. I hate closed-in spaces like that -- I think I would feel trapped.
Ed, that's neat that your wife is visiting here. Sterling is another of those typical little towns founded by the railroad with a few churches, a few businesses, and a main street a block from the tracks. Salt-of-the-earth prairie people. I believe I used to know someone who lived not far from there.
Dave, I'm a Churchill admirer, too. Like Abe Lincoln, he seems to be one of those men born for a specific purpose at a specific time, and the world would be completely different if they had not been there.
PM, that car must be special. Maybe a guy's wife is making him get rid of his layout, and this is his way of saying, "OK, I've got the stuff listed on Ebay. I can't help it if no one wants to buy it."
David, I've mentioned before that I sure am impressed about how England preserves their railroad hertitage. Those are impressive and well-kept locomotives.
Speaking of politicians riding the rails, here's a photo of Teddy Roosevelt campaigning from the rear platform in Alliance, Nebraska. He was running for Vice-President in 1900.
Have a great day, everyone.