Well, my time in the trainroom was short-lived. I have mentioned in the past I am the Executor of an estate of a lady who is an American but immigrated to Canada over forty years ago.
She died 20 months ago but the U.S. Government keeps sending her stimulus cheques. I have spent hours on the phone with the IRS/Dept of Treasury that insist the Estate is eligible to get them. I am happy to take the money on behalf of the estate and the Canadians that will in the end receive the money, however, I sure hope I don't have to file another IRS return as that will just burn up the stimulus money with accounting fees. But at least it is a Canadian accounting firm that gets the business.
So here I sit talking to the IRS, the accountant, and typing on the forum in between while on hold, I am glad you are all here to listen.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Right where I left it.
Good morning, I'm on my second cup of coffee and I still can't face the day.
The Kid and I did not do well on the golf course yesterday, I could tell he was really upset with what was going on with his Grandmother, justifiably so. She was showing some improvement in the morning and while we were out on the course she took a major turn for the worse. They wanted her DNR document at the hospital so my daughter had to route through our filing cabinet to find it and sent a copy to my wife at the hospital. She was rushed into surgery and is in the ICU now.
I got par on the last four holes so finished the round on a positive note. There were deer everywhere on the course and we had to shoo them away before we could tee off sometimes. At least there were no bears which we see often though they pay as much attention to you as the deer do as you walk by.
When my MIL arrived at emergency, our niece was the in-charge nurse and a good friend of ours was one of the Doctors that attended her. She ended up in a really nice private room and my wife had a cot to catch some winks on. It pays to know the right people.
Because of covid restrictions, my wife is the only one allowed in the hospital, even that is a big exception they are making for her. Not even her husband is allowed in but my wife is able to calm her down a lot from her panic attacks caused by her dementia.
John, I eat at least a dozen eggs a week, I mix in tomatoes, onions, cheeses and sometimes meat but no bread as I eat very few carbs. I get so much inflammation from carbs in my joints and gut I go from an active lifestyle to unwell in quick order requiring medication. I would rather eat healthily, live Med-free, and feel good. Most of the time I only eat one meal a day, I worked my way up to doing that over a few months and I feel way better for it.
So we have moved into modern times for this month's theme. We use to camp in the Rockies often and I would go off on my mountain bike, park myself on a cliff overlooking the CPR mainline and watch the trains roll by. The kid(s) would tag along sometimes and we would enjoy the quiet we would find and see a lot of wildlife while we waited. Then we would hear the approach of a train and it would be ear-splitting power going by as they would pass by grinding their way up to the continental divide.
Albert Canyon use to be a pusher station, but now the trains just blow through, but right as they pass this spot heading East they really throttle up, music to the ears.
It use to look like this.
Not much left there now but lots of old equipment in the weeds from long ago and where the wye was is this old explosives shed.
Looking down the wye.
The kids often talk about those days fondly hiking and riding off the beaten path to watch trains. It is definitely Grizzly country so we all had bear spray on hand.
Modern era Grizzlies asleep at Banff Station.
It has cooled off considerably the last few days, fall is in the air. I may venture into the trainroom and fire up the layout. The first order of business will be running the CMX.
I found myself playing this song yesterday, which means it is getting close to retreating back into the trainroom time.
All the best to all.
Good morning.....
I've been a bit busy last couple of days. Trying to catch up. I see Bear and David North Brit are back, and that is good.
Some of you may have heard about major flood in Tennessee in which several people died and many are still missing. The location is about 75 miles south of us.
We had plenty of rain here but nothing even close the the 17" in 24 hours they had in that part of TN.
MLC .... Did you have much rain in your "southern command" location? I think you were going there the last I heard.
Big Boy 4014 will be in southeast MO and in southern IL this coming weekend. I am planning on going with friends to see it.
Everybody ...... Have a good day.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
A couple of items that may cheer Kevin up…
Thanks Bear!
I have the Steam Punk train set as my desktop background now. It is perfect.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and coffee. Again. I never get tired of my boring breakfast menu.
It's time to plant grass in my area. I have a section of the backyard that I'm going to redo the leveling, and then plant. Not my favorite way to spend a day, and even worse, it's going to be in the high 90s with high humidity. Days like this make me appreciate ice cold beer in the late afternoon.
With the heat, it's a good time to look at BNSF's answer to snow. I believe this one is at Alliance, Nebraska, although I'm not real sure about that:
For those of you strange people who love to ballast your layout tracks, two years ago, areas about 60 miles east of us had flooding. This was BNSF putting new ballast on a section of flooded tracks at Plattsmouth, Nebraska:
Hope everyone has a good day.
York1 John
Good morning all. A warm sunny day here in the U.K.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good Monday Morning!
Well, for something contemporary how about a nice shot of the Lakeshore Limited taken yesterday?
Sunday Morning Lake Shore by Jerry Jordak, on Flickr
Looks like Amtrak has a paint match problem? That second unit looks like it is the color of the old Nickel Plate PA-1s.
Along with contemporary accomplishments I believe the Union Pacific deserves a tip 'o the hat for their efforts to get the Big Boy back on the rails:
I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead —
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanLooky There! Top 'O the page! Smoked pork butt for everybody!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hello Folks
We had a pork tenderloin tonight, too. A friend of Dee Ann's used to tell us about his venison "backstrap" so we kiddingly refer to any cut of meat from the loins as backstrap
I can count on one hand all the railroad photos I've taken in the last twenty years. Used to be quite active but not much of that stuff interests me these days. Watching the "vintage" steam crews in hard hats, hi-vis vests kind of takes the fun out of that. Plus being seen around the right-of-way with a camera may set yourself up for a felony these days.
I'll rely on other photographers that allow sharing their photos. Mike Danneman (a one-time Kalmbach editor/contributor) has some excellent photos!
Curving through Sheep Canyon by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Still wingless by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Look at the nice job the painters have done with weathering the pilot and plow
Get the gallon jug of Solvaset out!
Applying Scotchlite wings by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Here's one of my early vacation photos:
EJT_EBT_20_edited-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
The East Broad Top is on my bucket list to revisit soon. I'm so thankful that the current investors have made a go at keeping this historic treasure alive, and infact, expanding and improving the operation. After sixty years I'll still be able to stand on the steps of the Orbisonia!
200214_7_rockhill by lmyers83, on Flickr
These are the folks that made it happen
Left to right:
Lawrence Biemiller - EBT Foundation Secretary
Bennett Levin - EBT Foundation Board Member
Wick Moorman - EBT Foundation President
Henry Posner III - EBT Foundation Chairman
Jane Sheffield - EBT Foundation Board Member
Brad Esposito - EBT Foundation General Manager
David Brightbill - EBT Foundation Treasurer & Office Manager
Looky There! Top 'O the page! Smoked pork butt for everybody!
Smoked-shoulder by Edmund, on Flickr
Off to play trains! Cheers, Ed
Good evening everyone. We had a cloudy day that threatened heavy rain continuously, but we never had a single drop at the house.
I cooked a lean pork loin in the oven for 12 hours at 225 degrees, It turned out perfect. I have enough left over for sandwiches tomorrow.
I believe we should be in the 1980-Current week now.
This is a picture I took on a rainy day in the 1990s near Clewiston, Florida. I had to chase the train. I had never see a "ROUTE ROCK" boxcar before.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Good Afternoon,
Great to see the Bear and BritDave back from holidays. Keep those photos coming. NZ was high on my list of next destinations but with covid my wife sys we won't be going anywhere.
I have the Trainmaster badk together and it is running very smoothly now. It is a very powerful loco and will pull a decent train up my curved 3% grade without slipping. That is something other locos can't without double heading.^
John, I will be 74 in a couple of months and find N scale diesel decoder installs generally very easy. It simply involves changing one board for another another. The only tricky bit is getting the shell off but a couple of very small screwdrivers and toothpicks will get the job done. If you pull off a truck they justsnap back on.
I managed to cut the front lawn before it started raining again. It was the first time since June.
TF, thanks for the offer to help with the cleanup but it wasn't too bad as the water mostly just went down the floor drain that is located in the laundry where most of the water came in. The floor is tile so easy cleanup.
CN Charlie
Hi Bear,
Great videos and pictures! I loved seeing the ferry steam engines under power.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I found a thirty year old picture of my old friend Howard working on his beloved "vertical" mountain scenery.
I helped him with some of the tops, being so tall that made sense.
Good morning from the Pacific Rim.
The kid just called and wants to go golfing so he will show up around 1300hrs for that. Wife is back at the hospital to help settle the MIL as she is quite confused and not doing well. My wife went in during the night as well as she called the nurses station and they said that she was very upset. It is a 35-minute drive each way.
My wife is the most caring person I have ever known. I remember when we first shacked up together, I would wake up in the night and she would be gone. I soon learned that if she had disappeared in the night she hadn't been abducted by aliens, she had gone into the (Vet) hospital to check on an animal she was concerned about. At one time she ran five facilities, the big main hospital and 4 smaller clinics. She was almost always on surgical call and when the phone would ring in the middle of the night, I would hold my breath hoping I would not have to go with her. Many a time I did and I would often go right to work in the morning from the hospital.
Bear and David, it looks like you both had good trips. I can't wait to get going again to some more exotic location. For now, it will be taking the Daughter back to University in Victoria on Sept 1st. We will then go North up Vancouver Island to my cousins for a little R&R. Going out for an early morning paddle is without a doubt the best recharge we get. Early morning when the ocean is like a millpond can't be beaten. People come from all over the world to do this, I just go visit my cousin for a few days, man I am lucky.
This is not me or anyone I know but this is what we have encountered on more than one occasion. We even had a bear swim by once, going somewhere.
Just had a great workout. September 1st is the annual date I test my gradual decline in physical ability due to age. I think this year I will show some real change as I know I have slowed down over the last twelve months. I love the challenge though.
The kid is on his way early, so best hit the shower.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. A 15 inch gauge railway in Cumbria, England
1966 built 'River Mite' at Ravenglass.
1976 built 'Northern Rock'.
Thanks, John and TF. An enjoyable trip indeed.
The Falls of Shin, Near Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland.
Isle of Inchkeith in Firth of Forth. It was a Military Base in WW2 to protect shipping.
One of many Scottish Lochs, Loch Long.
Good morning
Looks like you had a good Holiday too David! I'm glad you had some fun
TF
Welcome back, David. I'm glad you and your wife were able to get away for a while. It looks like a good trip.
Good afternoon Diners (just). I am also back from holiday, so I'll share the tab with Bear.
Great pictures, Bear.
Here in the UK things are becoming a little more relaxed regarding freedom of movement. Being able to be on a ship was great. Something we thought would be impossible.
On a tour from the ship I traveled on the Welsh Highland Railway
A 1937 2.6.2 + 2.6.2 Belgian built NGG class locomotive that spent most of its life in South Africa. Seen here in Caernarfon Station.
At Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Station
(one has to visit.
'Snowdrop' on the River Mersey in 'Dazzle' livery. Looks more like psychedelic. Reminds me of Sgt Pepper.
Good morning, everyone. It's donut day.
I like the photos, Bear. You live in a beautiful country.
Ed, I love all the passenger car photos.
Another day with not much going on. After church, it's a full day of time to work on the layout, unless the woman living in my house wants to go for a ride or go to the grocery store. It's amazing how days with not much to do fill up with things to do.
I saw this train (didn't ride on it) two years ago in Colorado. Pretty neat!
Last month, we saw this from the walkway you can see in the background. Then my daughter said there's an overlook from which we can see it better. It was hot, the hike was two miles, and it was uphill. But the result was worth it.
Have a great Sunday, everyone.
SeeYou190Ed: The Hiawathas certainly had unique tail cars that were full of personality. I like the syling of both the "Beaver Tails" and "Sky Tops". Garry: I do not remember seeing a picture of that home made power unit before. It is truly distinctive. I wish I had the skills to scratchbuild something like that.
The railroads prided themselves for their innovative designers back in the "glory days". New York Central had Henry Dryfuss (my favorite) the PRR used designs of Raymond Loewy (not quite my style but, it was the "Flash Gordon" era) and the Milwaukee used the designs of Brooks Stevens for their premier train styling.
Relaxing with drink in hand while gliding along at 100 per on the glass-smooth Milwaukee right-of-way. What's not to love?
Hiawatha by Edmund, on Flickr
The Hiawatha Twins:
Milwaukee Matrons by Edmund, on Flickr
I found a photo of a model of the Milwaukee's home-brew (get it?) locomotive:
Just one more photo... by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
Somewhere in Wisconsin... by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
Sure beats the look of the C&NW cabs made out of E8 B units!
CNW 504 at Main St., Evanston, IL on March 13, 1978 by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
The bonfire is going again tonight but my beer has lumps in it.
Barbs Scuba Steves Seaweed Surprise was even better than the last time.
She made two pans. I think I ate the whole first one
We're all a little tired out up here and Rack Time is coming up real soon
Glad to hear that you had a good vacation, even if it did get cut short a bit.
I look forward to seeing your vacation pictures as well.
Count me in as well Bear. I have made that ferry trip in the Southbound direction. New Zealand is high on the list for a return visit so bring on the pics!
My Sister (pre-covid) made an annual trek to NZ to judge at dog shows and then over to Australia and up through Asia. That is one long flight from Vancouver and they can do it non-stop now. I use to stop for a few days in Hawaii or Tahiti or Fiji on the way down and back just to break the trip up.
It has been a hectic few days as the MIL is in hospital with a bad bowel obstruction, we got the call in the middle of the night that she was on the bathroom floor in agony. The wife headed up and upon arriving promptly called the ambulance which was there in three minutes. The MIL has dementia so the wife has been staying with her a lot in the hospital to try and keep her calm. They try and clear things up for 48 hours before the surgery option. So far it has not corrected itself. She has had endless bowel problems all her life and eats crap so the writing has been on the wall for decades. 84 is pretty old for pipe surgery so it is wait and see.
I have really bad arthritis, if you look at my spine on an X-Ray it looks like a melted candle. I was the show and tell exhibit at a big Rheumatology conference held in Vancouver about 12 years ago. Recently, I saw an ad wanting lab rats for an arthritis medical study. So wanting to do my part I signed up and went in when they responded. I WAS REJECTED! They said I was way too fit and was way outside the parameters of their study. I guess there are worse things I could have been rejected for.
The dinner bell is ringing. Bring on the Bear pics!
Man that looks like fun Bear!
Big sky, Beautiful scenery.
I can tell You and "Her in doors" had a really good time by the few pictures! I'll hope you'll have some more to share.
I'm so happy for the both of you
SeeYou190I love vacation (holiday) pictures. I don't know if anyone else does, but I do enjoy that sort of thing.
Count me in, too, Bear. I love vacation photos. Welcome back.
Good evening diners.
Bear: I love vacation (holiday) pictures. I don't know if anyone else does, but I do enjoy that sort of thing.
I just got an email that made me very angry, which I know was the intent of the sender. So... I am going to just sign off before I go into a rant.
Everyone have a great evening, and stay safe.
I will check in tomorrow.