Afternoon Folks!
Hope everyone out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving! (That includes all those around the world, even those who wouldn't have celebrated it. Hope you had a great week too!)
I had my immediate family over to consume a lot of turkey, mashed Potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and of course, winter squash. Desert was a large assortment of items including some home baked brownies and Pecan Pie!!! Yum. I just got around to cook down the remains of the bird for some homemade Turkey soup for next weekend. Will finish up the soup with vegetables, etc. later in the week and it will become dinner over at my son's house next Sunday.
I am evidentally in the midst of a long familiy celebration of my birthday this year. Turned 75 yesterday! Don't feel any older but I already felt pretty old..... They are planning a "large" gathering at the Belhurst Castle tomorrow in my honor. We will be ordering off the menu of the smaller restaurant on site but will gather in the large dining room of the Castle (for better distancing) and will be the only people there. Then most of the group will be coming to my house for dessert. We are all pretty much family and everyone is fully vaccinated (I hope!).
This morning Fitbit honored me with the "Russian Railway Badge". They say I have now put in the distance of the entire Trans-Siberian Railway. That is 5,772 miles in the last 3 years and 7 months.
I wil have to increase my milage to work of the amount of food I have consumed in this last week!!!
Hope you all have a great day!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon from a very wet West Coast. We are being nailed again with a lot of rain. I feel like crap today, I almost feel like I am sick which never happens so I just hope no one needs my help today.
Ray, happy belated Birthday to one of my favourite forumites. You are an inspiration with your modelling, environmental and fitness disciplines. I read a good article on how being fit is the best way to protect yourself from covid. 78% of covid deaths were obese people likely caused by the much lower number of antibodies they have.
NorthBritBrent. What a beautiful song by Sissel. I had never heard it before. Thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it, David. Nothing helps me unwind better than listening to Sissel for a while with a glass of the good stuff. Everyone thinks Celine did the vocals for Titanic, not so it was Sissel. Celine just sang the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jX2H4lK1x4&ab_channel=EnfermoLiguista
Here is a video of some Highway repairs going on. At 3:50 there is an interesting bridge. Can anyone tell me what kind it is, you see a lot of them if you go offroading as the Forest Service puts them in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GadbYCPKbjg&ab_channel=SteBros
I never take a nap, I never have to get up and pee in the night, my BP averages 104/60HR42 but I sure need to go lay down, I think.
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."
Tree's up. It's a giant artificial one. I think we've finally got the hang of dragging it out and assembling it. The lights are part of it so that part's done, too. The ornaments are next.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thank You Brent!
I have done the math and if can keep the regimen up I will receive the Equator Award. Of course I will also be 102 years old..... May not get that one! I do wish I had started years earlier! A couple weeks ago ago my Doctor evaluated all my blood work and listened intently to my heart, breathing, stomach, etc. and told me that I should sit down and have a serious talk with my family. He told me to let them know they might have to put up with me for several more years.....
I am now doing a 5k in about 47 minutes. Certainly not world class, but the best I have ever done. Bummer is that the Fieldhouse at the college is closed until Monday for the holiday here.
Been getting ready today to have folks come over for desert after we eat at the Castle tomorrow. I will be glad when the fal-der-ahl is done with. I hope my family has fun putting it all on and everyone stays safe!
howmusI have done the math and if can keep the regimen up I will receive the Equator Award. Of course, I will also be 102 years old..... May not get that one! I do wish I had started years earlier! A couple of weeks ago my Doctor evaluated all my blood work and listened intently to my heart, breathing, stomach, etc., and told me that I should sit down and have a serious talk with my family. He told me to let them know they might have to put up with me for several more years.....
Don't cut yourself short Ray. You could very well hit 102. Just think how much dust will be on the layout.
On my last visit to the Doc, he said your numbers are those of a teenager. I have been challenging myself with a new fitness test. The top-level is a professional cyclist, the next one down is amature pro and then comes the excellent fitness and it goes down from there. I am just starting to sometimes hit the amateur -pro category, however, I don't think I will ever get firmly seated there as my age is holding me back. I feel like my skeletal structure will explode on those days.
Let me ask you a question, I am very fit and find it no effort at all to maintain that level. Once you got fit do you find it work to stay fit? For me, it is like a walk to the mailbox, no biggie and I feel great all day long afterward.
BATMANOnce you got fit do you find it work to stay fit? For me, it is like a walk to the mailbox, no biggie and I feel great all day long afterward.
Not at all! I feel like I am missing something if I can't get over and run a bit. I make myself put in at least 5,000 steps on days I don't run which is just about 2.3 miles. But I feel much better when I get the 5k in or do a run in the neighborhood. I open up and run as fast as my tiny short legs will carry me for the last quarter of a lap. We have to wear a mask in the facility at all times. And when I finish I am gasping a bit... LOL. The other day I had sat down to change into my other sneakers to leave and a lady with a HWS (college) Athletic shirt (I think maybe one of the coaches at the college) came over and asked "How you doing?"? I assured her I was good and it felt good. We talked for a few minutes and she was very complimentary about my running at 75. What does 'tic me off' are the ladies that are almost my age that are over there power walking the track when I am just jogging. How dare they walk past me!!! Not fair! Of course each of them is at least 5 inches taller than I am... Longer legs is a plus!
My new hero is Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins. She has set the worlds record for the fastest woman alive in her class in the 100 Meter Dash! Of course her "class" is the over 105 years of age class. She still holds the record for the 100 to 104 age class as well....
Take care out there and stay safe!
Well, good evening everyone.
We had Chik-Fil-A catered into work today as a "thank you" for everyone's great effort on Black Friday. That was strange. Half the people that worked Black Friday were not there today, and I did not work yesterday, but I sure had some Chik-Fil-A today!
So, Black Friday was weird. The whole seasonal area is nearly bare. We did over $500,000.00 in sales yesterday. And... there were no Black Friday sales! Everything that was on sale yesterday, has been on sale for three weeks already. No one had to come in on Black Friday to get the deals.
Oh well.
I am tired, so I am going to hit the showers then hit the rack.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
MisterBeasleyTree's up. It's a giant artificial one. I think we've finally got the hang of dragging it out and assembling it.
Congratulations!
Dianne and I were struggling to get our ancient and heavy artificial tree up to the living room a week ago. We had to go past the front door on the way. When we got to the front door we were beat so I suggested that we take a break. Then I went down to the computer and ordered a pre-lit 4' tree. When I told Dianne she was thrilled! We put a 'free tree' sign on our old tree and got a neighbour to help us get it to the curb. It was gone in an hour.
The new tree is great. It weighs almost nothing, it only took a few minutes to decorate and from the street it looks like we have a full sized tree! We kept the ornaments that really meant something to us and gave the rest to our son to do with as he pleases.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Ray.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
SeeYou190I am tired, so I am going to hit the showers then hit the rack.
Hi Kevin,
I'm trying to send you a PM but the system won't let me. Without going into details, please know that you have my full support with regards to a recently locked thread.
I'll squeeze in a few more military train photos before the month ends:
I like the chalk marking on the side of this one,
I like the colour scheme,
Union Pacific honouring the Armed Forces. Was this a 'Desert Storm' loco scheme?
WWI tanks:
They gotta learn somewhere:
Oops:
Which war?
Squeaky clean:
Let's put on a little show:
Okay, this is different! This is an overland train developed in the 1960s. No rails. I can't see the practicality of the design. All the enemy has to do is knock out the power unit and the whole thing is kaput. I guess that's the same for any train on rails, but I don't understand the logic of exposing your transport system to the same risks on open land.
If you want to learn more about it:
https://www.vintag.es/2020/06/tc-497-overland-train.html
Excellent modeling:
This one isn't quite as shiny:
Ummm, somehow I don't think this is a regular railway crossing:
A CP loco in Desert Sand colours (?):
Adult sized fireworks!:
A WWI train likely used close to the front lines:
These Sherman tanks appear to be missing their barrels:
No comment necessary:
Steam train on the Somme 1918:
I don't think this was planned:
I guess that's enough for now.
Hope you enjoyed.
hon30critterhon30critter wrote the following post an hour ago: I'll squeeze in a few more military train photos before the month ends: I like the chalk marking on the side of this one,
Hi Dave,
That's a good lot of varied photos. I like the red Lambretta Scooter & Sidecar combo evading the large off-road vehicle. Also the S160's are nice and the head-on collision is 2 No. London Midland Scottish Railway, Stanier-design 8F's. These 2-8-0's were initially used as British War Department standards, prior to the design and adoption of the Austerity 2-8-0's & 2-10-0's. The 8F's were used mainly in the Middle East. Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
LazersThat's a good lot of varied photos.
Hi Lazers,
Thanks. Finding the photos was easy using a simple Google search for 'Military train photos'. The search revealed literally hundreds of photos but I tried to limit the ones I posted to subjects that I thought people might find entertaining.
To everyone:
Have we been able to choose a theme for December? Brent had suggested either Christmas trains or trackside structures that were not stations. Personally, I would prefer to use the Christmas train theme and save the trackside structures for January or February. What do you guys want to do?
P.S.
We had the Christmas pudding with caramel sauce last night at my family's Christmas celebration, and everyone agreed that it was absolutely great! We did the traditional flaming with brandy. It was beautiful, but one of our guests who is 11 years old didn't quite know what to make of me trying to set the table on fire!
Glitchy site and double post this morning, proceed to the next frame.
Good morning
Those military train photos are neat Dave. Do you suppose they figured if they painted that big Canadian Pacific the color of the sand that nobody would see it
Happy Birthday Ray, they certainly come round quickly these days don't they?
It certainly looks like you have a lot of back-breaking work ahead of you Kevin. Better you than me I think most of us take the holiday season off and take it easy. I suppose with your nicest weather this time of year, you just keep on going like that one battery commercial
I had to take a modeling break yesterday. My friend Bruce that owns the hobby store in St. Paul builds a lot of his own bridges. He told me when you build a timber trestle, build it first and then form the landscaping around it. He went on to say that building it trying to accommodate landscaping that's already there is almost impossible as he's been down that road before. He ended up removing the landscaping and re-doing it all over again anyway.
I would have to say I agree that he is correct but trying to form the landscaping around all the timber ends to keep relief for the little footings that the bridge will slide in and out of is extremely tedious. I think this part is harder than building the model was and it's driving me nuts Perhaps a little more nuts than I already am
Whatever theme you guys decide for the Forum next month is fine by me. I'm easy and you've always done a good job with that in the past here
Happy Holidays and have a great Sunday gentleman
TF
Good morning, diners.
The baby is up and woke me up. Normally at home I would have been up long ago but staying here I seem to sleep later.
Christmas trains sounds good to me for December.
Headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast with all the little kids (always an adventure) then hit the road for home.
York1 John
hon30critterThese Sherman tanks appear to be missing their barrels:
Dave, I cannot be sure, but I think those are a variation of the Sherman called the "Jumbo".
The "Jumbo" version had a very thick front glacious plate that could take a direct hit from a German 88mm gun. To get the armor this thick presented all kinds of problems for this variation, one of which was transport.
To move the tanks, all kinds of appliances would be removed so they could be light enough to ride on train cars, including the (undersized) main gun.
In a tank company equipped with some Jumbos, the Jumbos would always lead the way drawing enemy fire. Then the tanks with larger guns like the "Easy-8", "Hellcat", or M36 "Destroyer" would fire at the German tanks that revealed their positions shooting at the Jumbos.
I have read stories that the main gun on the Jumbo was so worthless that some crews replaced it with as big pipe to make the germans think it was not a Jumbo. The tiny main gun was a spotting feature of this tank variation. The Germans figured out not to shoot at Jumbos, so installing an ersatz gun would draw German fire again.
I have also read that some Jumbos ran with crews of only 3 or 4 since it was so under-gunned.
It must have been terrifying to roll out in front as just a big target.
hon30critterI'm trying to send you a PM but the system won't let me. Without going into details, please know that you have my full support with regards to a recently locked thread.
Dave, if you click the STRATTON AND GILLETTE herald by one of my posts it takes you to my profile page, and my email address is listed there.
That was weird, I posted this one sentence, and someone just went off the deep end.
Good morning all. Tried to watch church online this morning, but no sound on the feed. Makes it kind of pointless. Oh well.
I think the only thing I don't have up yet for decorations are the trains around the trees. Debating that one this year. Maybe the Lionel around the family tree as those trains are robust and in a location where at least the track could easily be stepped on. Not sure I'll put the On30 train up around the other downstairs tree. We will see.
Kevin, I'm sending you an email after this.
Got some chores to do, so I better get to it.
Later.
Mike
Good evening Diners. Girls, give te Diners a the drink of their choice and put it on my tab.
The storm has passed. The Christmas tree we have outside in a large tub (permanently) was blown over. Now upright and in its place. Just minor damage to our property, but elsewhere rather serious.
Dave. Great pictures. Thanks for posting.
Kevin. All this building work you are doing is tiring me out!!!
Ray. Happy Belated Birthday.
To everyone else - Have a good day.
Located near Poland's border, the remains of the complete WW2 Reichsbahn fleet that survived the war are rusting away on an old and forgotten train station. Some of them survived in an amazing condition in a locomotive shed while others are exposed to the elements. The steam trains are mostly belonging to the so-called Baureihe 52 and 50 (the so-called Kriegslokomotiven) because they were built in large numbers during the war in a standardized production process in several plants in Europe. Over 7000 were built and were used until the 1980s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdxmbG5PMVQ
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Kinda cool!
We just seen my son on TV at the Vikes game in San Francisco. He's in the front row off to the right behind the uprights.
Track fiddler Whe just seen my son on TV at the Vikes game in San Francisco. He's in the front row off to the right behind the uprights. TF
Whe just seen my son on TV at the Vikes game in San Francisco. He's in the front row off to the right behind the uprights.
My daughter and her then-boyfriend made the broadcast Kiss-Cam at a Red Sox game once. My Merrill Lynch guy used to give us to tickets a few times a year. They were first row field level about 8 seats down from the visitors' dugout.
I've been to a few ballparks, but not a lot. My favorite is still Fenway Park, but there's still a place in my heart for Ebbet's Field.
Hi David, thanks for the drink and good evening everyone,
I've been having a great day, thank you. Now that the wind has abated to nothing at all, I've ventured outside, made safe the fence Panels, and the one that came down. Tidied-up the yard, re-instated the washing line (too high, apperently) Fixed-up the outside light (goodness knows how that came down) Washed the dirt off some of the windows.
On Saturday a.m., I had an appointment with a Works manager to discuss some H&S docs. But Friday @23:00 I recieved a call to cancel because the Factory in Eyemouth, just up the coast in Scotland was hit pretty hard and the roof was being blown-off.
At the moment, parts of Berwick have no power and we have had no Tap-water since 10:00. Still no trains on the ECML
However I have made some progress on my Railroad Baseboards over the weekend and ordered some cork underlay for my classy-yard. I finally completed some shelves in the kitchen. I've only had the wood for 18 months! So for now I am in her good-books. Paul
Here's a 16" gun barrel resting on a pair of PRR F22 gun flats taken at the Watervliet Arsenal near Albany, N.Y.:
PRR_F22_W-vleit-NY by Edmund, on Flickr
Wvlt_gun16 by Edmund, on Flickr
Where I was employed at GE we had a pair of these 16"/45 cal. guns that came off the USS Colorado (BB45) which were used as pressure vessels after being shortened and plugged.
Hydropress 16 inch Gun by Edmund, on Flickr
We don't often associate big rail guns with North American railroads but there was at least this example taken in Altoona, Penna. on the PRR:
Altoona_gun by Edmund, on Flickr
Things are finally quiet around here after company has wandered their ways back home. Aaah, peaceful once again...
Cheers, Ed
Aaaaahhhhhh! What a day. I am officially pooped! What a week actually. Glad I only turn 75 once in a lifetime. Don't think I could manage this lifestyle all the time. LOL
Family was at my house for Thanksgiving meaning I was up at 5AM to get the turkey ready to put in the oven, start the mashed potatoes, Squash, etc. Birthday stuff started that day. Friday was dinner at my son's house with some b-day stuff and way too much to eat. Saturday I did my best to not eat much and rest up. Today I was taken to Belhurst Castle here in Geneva for a late lunch. Then back to my house for all kinds of sweet goodies and cake and champagna....
For those that don't know check out the webpage for Belhurst here: https://www.belhurst.com/ It is beyond fancy accomodations and definately not cheap! If I was to ever get hitched again (not likely, BTW) I would want the celebration party to be at Belhurst Castle.
Family has now left so I get to clean up and wash dishes.... Hmmmm.... They plan to have another party out at my son's house next Saturday with my DiL's side of the family as well. Hope they tone it down a bit when I turn 100!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
Quote for the day: "The tragedy of this country is that everyone who knows how to solve all our problems is either cutting hair or driving taxicabs." - George Burns
That must have been a fun experience for your daughter and her boyfriend back then Mister B.
I never made it to the Northeast Coast yet. We've always talked about going to Boston to go to one of those on shore seafood joints to eat some fresh stuff.
My favorite ballpark is Wrigley Field. It must have been the moment. We were eating our hot dog and drinking our beer and I started chanting swing batter batter batter, like in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The locals knew where I was coming from and pretty soon the whole section was doing it. That silly stuff can be really funny sometimes
I think I have about 280 feet of landscape wall to build around the back yard. Then I have about 300 square feet of paver patio to build. Then... a 120 square foot elevated patio and fire pit.
This is going to be a lot of work.
I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos on building these things. Lots of interesting things out there.
My three favorite house repair YouTube channels are Canadians. However, they are not the right guys to go to for information on building my landscape features. All they talk about is keeping water out so that when it freezes the expanding water does not damage the pavers, ledgers, caps, or concrete. They spend hours and hours talking about this.
Guess what I have ZERO worries about... that's right... freezing. We have not seen 32 degrees in fifteen years or so. If it ever does freeze, it is never going to be for more than an hour or two.
I cannot find a good YouTube home repair channel from a Southerner.
Good morning Diners. A bowl of porridge please, Flo.
The country is grinding to a halt with snow and power cuts.
A busy day ahead with a lot of small things to do, so I had better get started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK0Ocb86b8E&t=185s
A Christmas theme for December is fine by me.
NorthBrit Good morning Diners. A bowl of porridge please, Flo. The country is grinding to a halt with snow and power cuts. A busy day ahead with a lot of small things to do, so I had better get started. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK0Ocb86b8E&t=185s A Christmas theme for December is fine by me. David
Good Morning All,
A belated Happy Birthday Ray. That's good news no the health front. With my Arthuritis I can't run but I do try to walk as much as possible. I average a little over 5,000 per day, not like you.
I'll just have a regular to go please.
We had the first s**w yesterday morning - just enough to cover about an inch deep so it was nice looking. The roads didn't get cool enough to keep the snow on them from melting so it was just nice. Had Sam and parents over for brekkie and between chores (all inside) we went out and got a cut tree. The CFO dislikes pines anyway but every year we bring one into the house. At least with the move she is much happier than she had been. Even with the old house all fixed up, there were too many other things weighing on her so this is good.
David and Paul - I'm glad you escaped the brunt of the winds last week. I'm not sure a traditional thatched roof is up to 100 mph winds.
All for now. I have stuff to get done in the shop before I leave for Sebring abd our last race of the year tomorrow morning. Ciao, J.R.