Great news, Garry. I found being home was better for recuperation than in hospital. Take things at an easy, gentle pace. You remain in our thoughts.
John. I remember the robbery well. It was said the Police knew the names of some people involved, but could not prove it.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning, everyone.
That's good news, Garry! You'll continue to be in prayers.
David, pretty neat story of the train robbery. I didn't realize it involved so much and had so many people. I know movies have been made of it, but I don't remember seeing any of them.
We got home very late last night. The truck traffic on Interstate 80 is very heavy at night. I decided to come home rather than wait for morning. It's always nice to get to your own bed.
It's raining right now, so we will probably spend the day inside. Church is livestreamed.
Not much else is going on.
Have a good Sunday, everyone.
In Grand Island, Nebraska, the Burlington coal line coming from Wyoming crosses the Union Pacific. Until the late 1900s, these lines crossed, and when those long heavy trains hit the crossing, you could hear the noise for miles.
Finally, Burlington built a flyover bridge, with the line elevated through the entire town to eliminate road crossings.
Since both the UP and BNSF are busy on these lines, it's a great place to watch trains crossing trains.
The best I saw was when UP's 8444 crossed under a BNSF coal train. I didn't have a camera.
This photo was taken by Jim Wrinn, who writes for the the Trains forum. He caught an eastbound UP loaded coal train under a westbound BNSF empty coal train:
York1 John
Hello. Thanks everybody for thoughts and concerns. I had a very rough time. Now I'm better. Being discharged from hospital today. it will be a while before I post again here
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Brunhilda.
Garry and Others. Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery
Tractor wth a difference
Trapped In Snow - 1955.
Bridego Bridge.
A hot and sunny visit to the infamous Bridego Bridge or Train Robbers Bridge situated on the West Coast Mainline on Saturday 8th August 2020. The main reason i came here was because 57 years ago on the day of recording was the Train Robbery of 1963. I had never been here before so it was a first for me. So what was the Train Robbery of 1963? The Great Train Robbery was the robbery of £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train heading from Glasgow to London on the West Coast Main Line in the early hours of 8 August 1963, at Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, England. After tampering with the lineside signals in order to bring the train to a halt, a gang of 15, led by Bruce Reynolds, attacked the train. Other gang members included Gordon Goody, Buster Edwards, Charlie Wilson, Roy James, John Daly, Jimmy White, Ronnie Biggs, Tommy Wisbey, Jim Hussey, Bob Welch and Roger Cordrey, as well as three men known only as numbers "1", "2" and "3", two of whom later turned out to be Harry Smith and Danny Pembroke. A 16th man, an unnamed retired train driver, was also present. With careful planning based on inside information from an individual known as "The Ulsterman", named (possibly erroneously) as Patrick McKenna in 2014, the robbers escaped with over £2.6 million (equivalent to £55 million in 2019). The bulk of the stolen money was never recovered. Though the gang did not use any firearms, Jack Mills, the train driver, was beaten over the head with a metal bar. Mills was so severely injured that he never worked again. After the robbery, the gang hid at Leatherslade Farm. After the police found this hideout, incriminating evidence led to the eventual arrest and conviction of most of the gang. The ringleaders were sentenced to 30 years in jail. Stopping the Train: Just after 03:00 on 8 August, the driver, 58-year-old Jack Mills from Crewe, stopped the train on the West Coast Main Line at a red signal light at Sears Crossing, Ledburn, between Leighton Buzzard and Cheddington. The signal had been tampered with by the robbers: they had covered the green light and connected a battery to power the red light. The locomotive's second crew member, known as the secondman or "fireman", was 26-year-old David Whitby, also from Crewe. As a signal stop was unexpected at this time and place, Whitby climbed down from the cab to call the signalman from a line-side telephone, only to find the cables had been cut. As he returned to the train he was overpowered by one of the robbers. Meanwhile, gang members entered the engine cabin from both sides, and as Mills grappled with one robber he was struck from behind by another with a cosh and rendered semi-conscious. The robbers now had to move the train to Bridego Bridge (now known as Mentmore Bridge), approximately half a mile (800 m) further along the track, where they planned to unload the money. One of the robbers had spent months befriending railway staff and familiarising himself with the layout and operation of trains and carriages. Ultimately though, it was decided that it would be better to use an experienced train driver to move the locomotive and the first two carriages from the signals to the bridge after uncoupling the carriages containing the rest of the sorters and the ordinary mail. On that night, the gang's hired train driver (an acquaintance of Ronnie Biggs, later referred to as "Stan Agate" or "Peter") was unable to operate this newer type of locomotive; although having driven trains for many years, he was by then retired and was experienced only on shunting (switching) locomotives on the Southern Region. With no other alternative available to them, it was quickly decided that Mills would have to move the train to the stopping point near the bridge, which was indicated by a white sheet stretched between poles on the track. Biggs's only task was to supervise Agate's participation in the robbery, and when it became obvious that Agate was not able to drive the train, he and Biggs were sent to the waiting truck to help load the mail bags. The robbers had cut all the telephone lines in the vicinity, but one of the rail-men left on the train at Sears Crossing caught a passing goods train to Cheddington, where he raised the alarm at around 04:20. The first reports of the robbery were broadcast on the VHF police radio within a few minutes and this is where the gang heard the line "A robbery has been committed and you'll never believe it – they've stolen the train!"
York1Kevin, that's great that you have a group of friends like that. In New Orleans, I had a group of friends like that. However, moving to farm country, I've never really gotten into a group. That's partly intentional on my part, but I do miss the comradeship.
It is great to have a good group. Even though our group is shrinking.
When I worked a lot in Tampa I would meet up with a board-gaming group there. Those guys were great, but I have lost touch with all of them now. I will never forget our screening party for Sharknado III, that was one of the most fun evenings I have had in my entire life.
York1Moving from southern Florida to Minnesota just before winter? I hope your friend knows what he is getting into.
We were all teasing him about that. He is going to live with his brother. I do not know all the details that led to this decision.
I would never leave Florida for Minnesota in the Winter time.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi Ed,
Your situation is strange. The number of birds that we are seeing has dropped off a bit, but we are still seeing lots of birds. I hope that things get back to normal soon!
I'm sure all of you have seen this video before, but it is worth posting again. It will remind you to do your collar up tight and not get too close to the railroad snow plows!
Looking at the snow sends chills down my spine!
Cheers!!
Happy shovelling!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Evening,
Ed, that is really strange that your birds have disappeared. We are still getting some Juncos and White throate d sparrows besides the usual ones that live around here. A couple of red breasted nuthatches have been on the suet for a few weeks now. They may stay for the winter. Sure can fly fast.
Hope Garry is recovering and will be home soon.
Not much new here, same old daily routine. We did get the elm tree beside our house trimed as it was touching the neighbours roof. Two guys did it by climbing, one was about 40 feet up. Not my kind of job, my palms sweat watching someone on a cliff on TV.
Tea time,
CN Charlie
Ed, that doesn't sound good about the birds. Maybe this time of year they're out in the fields.
We've been missing birds for several days recently because a big hawk is sitting in the top of a tree in our yard.
Edit:
We're out of town so I'm trying to write this on a phone. I'd love an ice cold beer right now so everyone can join me.
Missoula Meanderings:
Missoula_Vachon by Edmund, on Flickr
So much to see here, yes, there's even a girder bridge in kit form. Lots of locomotive tires. Quite a few skylights over the machine shop. I wonder what the tapered, square "stack" is to the far right? Anyone modeling a shop scene can get some ideas here!
Here's what's left:
Missoula_from-I90 by Edmund, on Flickr
I have not had a single bird visit my feeders or suet cakes in the past six weeks! Where did they all go? Even my favorite Pilateds are gone. In the spring I had to refill both feeders every two or three days.
Haven't seen a Cardinal, Blue Jay or even a Robin in over a month. Somethin's fishy!
Cheers, Ed
howmusBrent, not sure if I could get doing some sit-ups and push-ups.
The thing with pushups or situps when starting out is, people work too hard at it. My philosophy about exercise is gain with no pain. Let's say a person can only manage 8 pushups with every last ounce of strength he has. Don't kill yourself doing 8, do 5 every second day. then the next week do 6 every second day and then 7 the next week. In a year you will whip off a hundred without thinking about it. It is the same if you get on the stationary bike, start at 5 minutes, then next week 6 minutes and so on. Most people get fat over decades, taking 4 or 5 years to get skinny is OK. Once in shape, it takes no effort to stay in shape and you feel so good you can't wait for happy hour (exercise time) I go flat out on the bike for 40 to 60 minutes and have to make myself stop it feels so good.
Took the wife to Lee Valley Tools today, which is such a cool store. We then went hardwood floor shopping. She took photos of our living/dining room and installed all the different floors in the program to see how they would look. It makes decision-making a lot easier.
The Seattle Kraken play their first-ever home game tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, I think this will be some rivalry in the years to come.
I really like the name they chose as well as the logo.
It is Hockey Night, now where is my bottle of wine, time to do some pushups.
Mountain Creek Bridge.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
John and Brent, thanks! What pleased me most over there was that I had no trouble running and using the mask... Nice to be able to be back over there a few times a week and get back running indoors. I will still run here in the neighborhood when the weather permits as well.
Brent, not sure if I could get doing some sit-ups and push-ups. Probably should try doing some on my days when I don't run. One thing I didn't do at all this summer was to ride the bike. I fear I will turn onto a passing car with my hearing.... I can hear what is front of me, no problem, but forget to turn on the omni setting on the aids when I am out riding.
I am thinking of downloading JMRI on my laptop. Any of you using it out there? What are you using it for on your layouts?
Ray
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good morning from a damp West Coast.
Environment Canada just issued a storm warning with winds to 100kmh for tomorrow night. Nothing too drastic but can make the patio furniture disappear along with the basketballs out front, so I will be putting things away today. I will fire up the generator to make sure things are ship-shape, I gave it a major service during the dog days of summer and it ran like a top afterward. The chain saw will get fired up as well. I hate when things crap out right when you need them. My two neighbours to the North of me are as useless as you can get when it comes to dealing with looking after themselves, my three neighbours to the South are very capable people.
Ray, glad to hear of your field house exploits. I have really picked up the workouts now the weather has changed. Also, hockey has started and during the commercials, I do pushups and situps, planks and an assortment of other things to pay for the booze I consume during the game. I ate a whole Costco chicken and huge veggie/fruit salad for dinner last night, the wife usually gets me my own or cooks one for me if she roast at home. I was still short on the intake so will eat breakfast today so I don't waste away.
A new wine store opened up where we were yesterday and they had some pretty good wine at low, low come into our new store prices. The credit card is still smokin.
Talking trucks, we had to lease/rent sometimes if we had something special going on and the rentals always seemed to be Volvos. They were pretty nice. Given the choice and I was just an around town guy, for the most part, I kind of liked the Sterlings we had sometimes. Probably drove them all at some point over 36 years, I just drove them, never had to service them as an owner/op would maybe do. I think when you do your own maintenance and repairs that determines a lot.
Those Super-C RVs are just what the wife wants to travel the dog show circuit in. She already knows where she will take her airbrake course when or if I say yes. I want a truck a tailer so I can go exploring after I dump the trailer at the show grounds.
Forty containers fell off a ship just off Vancouver Island, I hope there were no Rapido containers in the mix, though I think the Rapido stuff gets offloaded at Prince Rupert most of the time.
Better get ready for the blow.
All the best to all.
SeeYou190Last night I went and hung out with my wargaming friends. One of our group is moving to Minnesota.
Moving from southern Florida to Minnesota just before winter? I hope your friend knows what he is getting into.
Good morning, everyone. It's a little late for breakfast and a little early for lunch, so ... I'll have bacon, eggs, and black coffee anyway.
Kevin, that's great that you have a group of friends like that. In New Orleans, I had a group of friends like that. However, moving to farm country, I've never really gotten into a group. That's partly intentional on my part, but I do miss the comradeship.
David, those are nice videos of bridges. The top ten had some eye-opening engineering feats.
Douglas, I'm not showing my wife the photos of the semi cab campers. She would spent my retirement savings on one of those if I didn't watch her.
Ray, you've really changed your health by all the running. Congratulations.
MLC, I can imagine that riding herd on a bunch of movie theater teenage workers was a riot.
Charlie, I hope your wife can lessen her anxiety. It is a difficult thing to go through. We haven't had a hard freeze yet, just a couple of 32º F nights, so all the plants are still OK. A lot of people here also try to prolong the season by covering things at night, but I'm not sure how much success they have.
Dave, that's a neat bridge that the Royal Gorge train crosses. I have never riden that train, but I did take the funicular down into the gorge to the river. That's a pretty amazing place and worth the stop if anyone is traveling nearby.
Royal Gorge funicular:
For all the diners I haven't mentioned, I hope everything is going well with you -- especially those facing health issues. I'm thinking of you.
Good morning everyone.
Last night I went and hung out with my wargaming friends. One of our group is moving to Minnesota. This is bad for us. We have been losing participants about one per year, and no new people are coming into the group.
Eric, they guy moving to Minnesota, was the only other member of the group that was also a model railroader. He had a large O scale layout that was still in plywood. It has been taken down and the building it was in has been razed so he could sell his property.
If I didn't tell you we were wargamers, we could pass easily for a group of model railroaders. These guys don't know it yet, but they are going to be called on for a lot of help building my layout.
There is a lot of modeling talent in this group.
Good morning all.
Ken, Ulrich, Garry - Get well soon!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Zoe.
A busy day today. Off to see some 1-1 railway locomotives at 'Locomotion', Shildon, County Durham.
Garry. Our thoughts for a speedy recovery.
Others missing. You are missed.
Top 10 'Cool' Bridges. Maybe TF will be tempted to build number 1?
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
York1Kevin, I remember you talked about the crowds when you were at Yellowstone. We had the same thing this past summer. This morning, I read that both Grand Teton and Yellowstone had, by far, the largest attendance in history.
Yellowstone was the most crowded park we visited. Grand Teton and Theodore Roosevelt were no where near as crowded. Mesa Verde was almost deserted. Dinosaur Monument and Bighorn Canyon were the two best. We were almost completely alone in these. Craters Of The Moon was also amazing and not crowded at all.
The Upper Penninsula Lake Superior shoreline in the National Forest was truly unbelievable. That was the one spot that actually moved my soul.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
To my eye, that Pere Marquette boxcar does not look different enough from the Proto-2000 50 foot auto boxcar to justify the price.
For the real stickler, I guess it might be worth it.
Hello Railfans!
Top of the day to yas! Hope all are well. Fine here.
Kevin) How would you define this.....
As: Ironic, coincidence, or just the norm?
This popped up on my radar not 24hrs after you mentioned yours. Then my eyes popped again when i saw the original sticker price even. I highly doubt it will come close to $300 though.
Im gonna have to increase the kids income from weekly allowance to yearly salary if I want them to follow me in this hobby. Plus sell a few "IBM shares".
Yall need any help where your at? I may have to get a 2nd job too!
Just thought it was out of ordinary this showed up.
Clear Ahead!
Douglas
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good afternoon, everyone. I just finished lunch, so those cookies are perfect for dessert.
It's been a busy couple of days, with more to come. I'm not used to this pace in retirement. After next weekend, things will calm down.
Kevin, I remember you talked about the crowds when you were at Yellowstone. We had the same thing this past summer. This morning, I read that both Grand Teton and Yellowstone had, by far, the largest attendance in history. I didn't have to read that to know that the lines for the outdoor pit toilets were too long.
Here's a good one for you expert modelers. This is the Erie's Genesee bridge built in 1851, 234 feet high and 800 feet long.
Have a good day, everyone. Garry, we're pulling for you to get past this and return to the diner.
Water Level RouteMaybe these will help.
What cookies??? I ate them all before lunch... I bet I will be up 5 lbs. tomorrow!
Well..... Pant, pant,pant... I done did it! Ran an entire 5k wearing a mask this morning! Yep, The Hobart and William Smith Colleges here in Geneva has finally opened the fieldhouse to the public once again (you do have to be fully vacinated and wear a mask while inside the fieldhouse). I was the only person using the indoor track but did what was asked and did the 5k while wearing a mask. Did it as much to prove to myself it was doable....
Did the 5k in just under 50 minutes. Didn't really push myself with the mask, but it felt good to run on a nice track with no hills and potholes. I will continue to run outside here when the weather permits but nice to know I can get back over to the fieldhouse when it is 0°F outside....
73
NorthBrit A year has passed. I have been here just over a year.
Happy Cake Day!
I'm nowhere as good at this as Bear is!
Yikes!!! A year has passed. I have been here just over a year.
Girls give the Diners a drink on me. If they prefer anything else put it on my tab.
Hmmmm... maybe I should ask Chloe to cancel that toast order and I'll just have a couple of Mike's cookies instead.
I'll have one Mike.
Just returned. I have been playing family taxi and need some sustenance.
Hopefully I can have an easy evening.
Good morning everyone. Chloe just brought me my first cup of coffee and I ordered a stack of whole wheat toast.
I am going to make the template for my countertop in my closet today and go to the stone supplier to see what remnants look good.
Garry: We are pulling for you with all of our might down here.
So empty there's an echo in here today.
Maybe these will help.
Mike
Good Morning Guys.
Peterbilt & Kenworth are neck and neck for me. Depends on the model. Then comes Freightliner. Never been in a Volvo. Or a Mack or Western Star. I think I've been in an International and a White, but not positive. I am slightly ashamed.
Dave, pretty sure that bridge is on the way to Hogwarts!
gmpullmanI picked one up a few years ago and I'm really impressed with it. Running qualities are excellent!
Garry, still thinking of you.
TF, where have you gone again?
Everyone else, wishing you the best.
Have a good day guys.