Good morning from the sunny West Coast where it is -1c. We are getting 10cm of snow tonight they say. We can go an entire year without ever hitting the freezing mark here and/or get snow. Given the wacky extreme weather we have been getting I think we are holding our collective breath.
I have been following what has been going on with CP and CN trying to get up and running as a lot of crew(s) chit-chat on the RR FB sites. Some get brought in to man trains and before they get going there are more issues and they time out, going nowhere.
Went to the Canucks game last night with the kid and had a great time. The drive home was very relaxing in this new Highlander. As I got further away from the city and the cars fell off, with the self-steering and auto speed control I just sat there and enjoyed the ride. It was so peaceful with great music playing.
MisterBeasley I just came down here to use the bathroom."
Mr.B, my day started off with a good laugh reading this.
Dave, congrats to your DIL on her achievements.
Both my kids eat, sleep, breathe school and the result of that is evident. My son got honours with distinction all through University and had a six-figure income six months before he even graduated and now his employer is paying for him to get his Masters and I would bet it won't stop there.
My daughter is also tearing it up getting 100% on almost every lab/project and exam in her sciences. She is going into medical forensics but after she wrote a couple of papers was approached by an outside group (for lack of a better term) about doing some work in Astro Anthropology after her Professor recommended her. The governments of the world are really gearing up for disclosure and are seeking out top talent. We're supposed to say she is working in public safety. She is taking a couple of astronomy courses this term to bone up on all things space. Really basic stuff that she already knew, I bet it will get tougher as she keeps going.
I am a guy with high school education and my wife is a highly educated super-brain but is very passive. Both my kids got my wife's smarts and ability to learn and got my tenacity to go after the things they set their minds on. It was a good breeding as all our dog friends like to say.
Time to get on the bike, I have missed too many days. I like to eat and only allow myself to be a glutton when I work out. So far I have not put on any weight.
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 Morning,
Blustery day here, a little snow but getting windy and colder. Not good forthe big football game this afternoon. There are only 3 downs in Canadian rules and the field is 10 yds. longer and 10 yds. wider so it is a passing game to move the ball. Not good in a blizzard. They sold 30k tickets but I wonder how many will go.
A good day to run trains! I gave the Mike a good workout yesterday and think it is time to get the J4e Pacific out.
I have been watching some videos on Youtube about WW2 fighters especially the Typhoon and Mosquito.
We have a small flock of Juncos here. A little late for them. A grey squirrel comes to the back door and begs like a dog. He gets a piece of Nutsy for his efforts.
I had hoped to get down to Thief River Falls to visit our good friends but that won't be happening soin with the new border restrictions and she is recovering from back surgery. Haven't bee there for 2 years. We used to go at least 3 times a year.
CN Charlie
NorthBrit Good morning Diners. A large coffee please, Zoe. Just a quick visit as the grandchildren are arriving. I know it is a Christmas theme this month, but I found this film of a model railway. From when I was a lad I was told and read about 'The Madder Valley Railway' built by John Ahern in the 1930s. Although only seeing pictures at the time I was alway 'mesmerised' by the beauty of the layout. John has now passed to working on 'The Great Model Railway'. fortunately his layout has been preserved and is working at Pendon Museum. Here is the layout working this weekend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBC8T1ZE7g Enjoy! David
Good morning Diners. A large coffee please, Zoe.
Just a quick visit as the grandchildren are arriving.
I know it is a Christmas theme this month, but I found this film of a model railway.
From when I was a lad I was told and read about 'The Madder Valley Railway' built by John Ahern in the 1930s. Although only seeing pictures at the time I was alway 'mesmerised' by the beauty of the layout.
John has now passed to working on 'The Great Model Railway'. fortunately his layout has been preserved and is working at Pendon Museum.
Here is the layout working this weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBC8T1ZE7g
Enjoy!
David
Hi David,
Loved the video. When I started-out building my own Model Railways in 1968 at the ripe old age of 11, I always read 'Railway Modeller' (Peco Publications) and JM's 'Madder Valley' often featured or was referred to.
MR's like it, were always an influence. It was great to see it again, in the video.
Also, from that era (1971) another layout from Railway Modeller that I thought was fantastic even though I was not modelling Narrow Gauge (and it too, is not a Christmas theme) was 'Stronalacher' saga by David Mander. There is a series of 'sagas' and when I view them, it shows what modellers could achieve without all the ready-made scenic materials that we have at our disposal today.
http://tbmod.com/rm/rm197104stronalacher5.pdf
Regards, Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Yeah, TF, those ski weekend sure were fun. I remember one morning when we went there with a bunch of my daughter's high school ski team friends. I was walking through the lobby and one of the staff who didn't know me asked if he could help me find something. "No, we're here with 5 teenage girls, and I just came down here to use the bathroom."
The whole lobby burst out in laughter.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning John. Did you get your brush burning done the other day and stay warm by the fire? That actually sounded like a really fun chore to me.
Put in a good word with the Man Upstairs for us and have a good visit at church. Bring us back some of those donuts if you would please
TF
Good morning, everyone. Just checking in quickly before we head to church. I love those old ads for Christmas time on the trains.
TF, please keep that ice and snow up there. We got very cold again, but so far it's dry. I saw that some snow is predicted this week.
Later today, I will do my chores and pick up more leaves. The oak trees are almost done, so the end is in sight.
Have a good Sunday, everyone.
York1 John
Good morning
A dusting of snow this morning and the news is showing ice rinks for roads out there. I couldn't expect that 50° streak to last. Man it was warm in the sun for being December. I just wish I would have asked my daughters to go agate hunting last weekend as I think that was the last chance for about a half of a year
Judy goes back to work this morning after two days off. Plenty of munchies in the house. We just went grocery shopping at 6:00 AM yesterday is what we've been doing for quite some time. No one is out that early on the weekends and we have the whole store to ourselves. A good Idea as the virus has been spreading up here again and the hospitals are full.
I'm gonna need something to do today so I think I'll make up with my bridge after giving it a rest for awhile. Came up with a couple of solutions for the transition joining up to the other bridge.
You must be proud of Kaitlin's accomplishment Dave Congrates on your daughters success.
Well, time to make another half a pot. Driving Miss Daisy to work soon. I should just hand her ice skates to her and send her on her way
Make it a great day gentlemen
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
SeeYou190That is good news Dave. She must have worked hard to reach that goal. Way to go!
Hi Kevin,
Thanks! I have never known a person who worked as hard at her studies as Kaitlin did. Even when we were on vacation together at a rented cottage, she would get up at 7:00 am and study until 1:00 or 2:00 pm every day. Our son has similar study habits! He sure didn't get them from me!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Water Level Route Did all of the troll's post get left? I had one get deleted as it was addressing the troll in the thread (actually trying to offer him help to fit in), but guessing since the thread was nosediving hard, and it wasn't a direct response to the OP's post is why it was deleted. Could yours have been similar?
Did all of the troll's post get left? I had one get deleted as it was addressing the troll in the thread (actually trying to offer him help to fit in), but guessing since the thread was nosediving hard, and it wasn't a direct response to the OP's post is why it was deleted. Could yours have been similar?
Yes, It was a similar situation Mike. He was doing his typical destructive job of diminishing the thread rather quickly with his nonsense. You know, sucking all the life and the fun out of it like he does.
My post was what I considered indirect tasteful humor. I think everyone might have really got a kick out of it. Maybe it came just a little too late when things were already starting to slide down hill.
I'm sure Tom was just doing his job which must get a little trying at times keeping up with the troll around here. I don't even know why he puts up with him.
I as well tried to help the troll once but he just didn't get it. I told him the post he just wrote was actually friendly, informative and helpful, until he gunked it all up with his last sentence.
I don't know why anyone lets that guy get thier goat and respond to him. That's what he's after. That's what makes people like that happy for some deranged reason I guess.
MisterBeasley We used to have a tme-share ski condo at Sunday River. I noticed the shower drain was very slow. I reported it but it never got fixed. So, he next time we were there, I brought up some tools, took apart the drain and cleaned it out. Yuck, what a mess, but after that it worked. I've also printed up official looking hotel repair forms on my computer at home, filled them out and submitted them. That worked on occasion
We used to have a tme-share ski condo at Sunday River. I noticed the shower drain was very slow. I reported it but it never got fixed. So, he next time we were there, I brought up some tools, took apart the drain and cleaned it out. Yuck, what a mess, but after that it worked.
I've also printed up official looking hotel repair forms on my computer at home, filled them out and submitted them. That worked on occasion
York1That's a good one, Ed!
Thanks, John
NYCentral_Lionel by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
gmpullman There seems to be a little disturbance amongst the wait-staff here in the Diner when they heard that their Holiday Bonus might be reduced due to low patronage. 1961 ... House Of Women by James Vaughan, on Flickr Anybody know how to set up a Go-Fund-Me account for them? Cheers, Ed
There seems to be a little disturbance amongst the wait-staff here in the Diner when they heard that their Holiday Bonus might be reduced due to low patronage.
1961 ... House Of Women by James Vaughan, on Flickr
Anybody know how to set up a Go-Fund-Me account for them? Cheers, Ed
That's a good one, Ed!
Water Level RouteEd, that's pretty cool! Looks like a former D&H unit? Wonder how it ended up there.
I don't know all that much about the Escanaba & Lake Superior other than the owner, a Mr. Larkin has a private collection of railroad equipment he keeps under wraps in a series of buildings in Michigan.
Several of the former New York Central Baldwins were sold to the Monongahela Railroad and then to the D&H where they enjoyed a celebrity lifestyle along with three former Santa-Fe Alco PAs. I guess they worked a bit on the Northern Michigan before being bought by the E&LS.
The Ludingtons seem to have been early investors in the line:
Isaac Stephenson, Jefferson Sinclair, Daniel Wells Jr., Harrison Ludington and Nelson Ludington were the founders of the N. Ludington Company. This was later renamed the Escanaba River company in 1888.
In 1897, the Escanaba River company built a seven-mile railroad from Wells to tap a large hardwood timber stand at LaFave’s hill. In 1898, the company name was changed to the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railway (E&LS). Work began in 1898 to extend the track 31 miles from Wells, Michigan, northwest to Watson and was completed in 1899.
[Wikipedia]
Here they are in better days:
DH, Waverly, New York, 1975 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Anybody know how to set up a Go-Fund-Me account for them?
Cheers, Ed
Happy Saturday all.
Track fiddler Good morning Tom I just wanted to respectfully ask? I don't understand (why) you deleted my harmless post and left the troll's? Ain't the first time and I would just like to know Thanks for volunteering your time and keeping our forum respectable TF
Good morning Tom
I just wanted to respectfully ask? I don't understand (why) you deleted my harmless post and left the troll's?
Ain't the first time and I would just like to know
Thanks for volunteering your time and keeping our forum respectable
Kevin, looking forward to seeing what you've accomplished in your yard next.
York-John, I had to do a double take on the botanical garden trains you posted. Looked a LOT like a place in Grand Rapids, Michigan I've been to a few times. Love your signature by the way!
Dave, congratulations to the daughter-in-law!
Ed, that's pretty cool! Looks like a former D&H unit? Wonder how it ended up there.
Ricky, keep up the work on the layout room. Exciting to hear!
I know I missed others, but not intentional. Take care gents!
Mike
Track fiddler That was rich! Thanks for the great laugh this morning Charlie, I needed one I have the same problem with the bathroom sink drain about once a week. It's a conglomerate of poligrip and long thin black hair. Mine is mid-length grey-brown and coarse TF
That was rich! Thanks for the great laugh this morning Charlie, I needed one
I have the same problem with the bathroom sink drain about once a week. It's a conglomerate of poligrip and long thin black hair. Mine is mid-length grey-brown and coarse
CNCharlie The power head on the vac wasn't working right so I took it apart and cleaned out a lot of hair wound around the shaft. It was blonde so not mine. Anyway if that doesn't fix it I suspect the drive belt is stretched. At least you can get parts for it.
The power head on the vac wasn't working right so I took it apart and cleaned out a lot of hair wound around the shaft. It was blonde so not mine. Anyway if that doesn't fix it I suspect the drive belt is stretched. At least you can get parts for it.
A cool 10F here but it is sunny and the wind is light. Tomorrow there is a CFL semi final game here and the forecast is snow, strong NW winds with a windchill of 0F . I wonder how many will turn up for the game. This is very late as usually the Grey Cup is played Nov. 20 or so but this year not until next weekend in Hamilton. Winnipeg could win it.
Ran trains a bit yesterday and plan more today. The 0-6-0 has to take the hoppers that supply the coaling tower to the harbour to get refilled from a barge.
The power head on the vac wasn't working right so I took it apart and cleaned out a lot of hair wound around the shaft. It was blonde so not mine. Anyway if that doesn't fix it I suspect the drive belt is stretched. At least you can get parts for it. It is a Miele vac. They sure are well built and worth the cost in my opinion. After all that excitement yesterday I had a glass of wine.
Well my coffee cup is empty so time to put more in the press.
York1Have a good Saturday, everyone.
I am planning to. I hope it goes well.
I hope Chloe gets here with that bagel soon. My coffee cup is full, so that is good.
Happy Saturday everyone.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning, diners. The usual breakfast for me, please.
I'm going to play firebug today and burn the pile of branches I've collected over the past weeks. It's pretty cold out, so I can get a lawn chair and sit by the fire.
I'm finally getting some time to work on the layout again. I'm starting the scratchbuild of a house that will be the parsonage for the layout's church. I'm not going to spend too much time making some of the details. I've found that some of the N Scale details aren't really noticeable unless you get about six inches from the structure and use a magnifying glass. It just isn't necessary for me.
hon30critter Our daughter-in-law Kaitlin has passed her CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) final exam!
Tell your daughter-in-law congratulations from us!
Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's Botanical Gardens, has a large indoor Christmas display. They have a model railroad that weaves around the large display, and usually has several trains that run through it all. Kid's especially love the trains that appear though the trees and plants:
Have a good Saturday, everyone.
Good afternoon Diners. A large coffee and blueberry muffin please, Janie.
I see there is no news from Michigan.
It is time for the Santa's Special Trains. Here is a short film of a little Heritage Line. The Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.
For many families Christmas starts here, at Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. The fires are lit at Bolton Abbey station and festive decorations will be all around. Seasonal fare will be available to purchase from the Refreshment Room and buffet cars, which will be bulging with mince pies and other Christmas treats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JLwe7XGg_Y
SeeYou190I can't see anything. I don't think embedded videos are working any more.
\Aah, yes. I forgot about that.
I reset my security settings to "Allow Insecure Content" which allows YouTube to embed the data. Others may not have chosen that option. It's actually a Google thing.
Mostly you can fast forward through the 30 min. video and just pick out the "good parts".
hon30critter Our daughter-in-law Kaitlin has passed her CPA
That is good news Dave. She must have worked hard to reach that goal. Way to go!
gmpullmanIn other Michigan news
I can't see anything. I don't think embedded videos are working any more.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
In other Michigan news...
The rumors appear to have been true!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsqYL3Gxe34
Dianne and I got some good news today! Our daughter-in-law Kaitlin has passed her CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) final exam! We are so proud of her. She has worked extremely hard for years to get the designation. She is now officially Kaitlin Warnica CPA!
Well, I am not going to sleep tonight.
I went outside to move a sprinkler, and I bumped into a spider's web. I looked up and saw this terrorizing thing.
Truly, nightmares are made of these.
BigDaddy They no longer have a home, but I might go down and see what I can learn about local or maybe not so local train stores. I think the closest one to me is in Ashland Va, which is 2 hours away.
If you are referring to Tiny Tim's Trains And Hobbies, it is not worth a two hour trip.
Even the CTA gets into the Holiday Spirit!
CTA 2894 2017 Jewel-Osco Holiday Train Eisenhower Exp-Home Ave Blue Line by mbernero, on Flickr
CTA S-605 2017 Jewel-Osco Holiday Train by mbernero, on Flickr
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!