A somewhat belated Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope everyone had a great time.
Santa was very generous to me. In addition to lots of chocolate and some real British licorice allsorts, I got several train items. One is a Bowser 4-4-2 locomotive kit. I'm not sure how old it is but that really doesn't matter. The box had been opened and someone had started filing off the flash on the boiler. It looks like they used a very coarse file but the scratches will be easy to fill. I hope all the parts are there.
I also got four freight cars. One is a CP mini boxcar which is a bit early for my era but it is going to be used regardless. The second was a fairly nicely detailed CP steel side box car with a car number that I haven't seen before. I can't determine the manufacturer for either of those but it really doesn't matter to me. The third is a Trueline Trains CN slab sided 10 hatch hopper car. It has been slightly weathered and they did a nice job. The fourth is a new Atlas TH&B slab sided hopper. It is very nicely detailed. The only minor problem is that it has the Canadian Centennial 1867-1967 emblem on the side which I may just paint over because I am modelling the late 50s.
We actually celebrated Christmas on the 24th. Our son and daughter in law joined us and we had a beef tenderloin roast cooked in a covering of coarse salt. It was incredibly tender, juicy and flavourful. The only trick is to make sure you get all of the salt crystals off before serving because biting into a chunk of salt isn't very pleasurable. Amazingly, the roast was not overly salty. After dinner we played games until 1:30 in the morning!
Our son and daughter in law gave us tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot in January. We will keep our fingers crossed but somehow I have the feeling that Covid-19 will put the boot to those plans. If that happens it will be the second time that Covid has prevented us from seeing Gordon in concert!
I hope everyone is happy and healthy and having as good a time as possible given current circumstances.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
NorthBritI have come across this film of a diorama from 2009.
Hi David,
The snow in that video was really well done! I wonder what they used.
Pos..
I told you I'd save that one for later.
I had Judy take a picture on our way in to our second Hotel. So far we haven't had a problem with the ice quality in this place...
TF
Water Level Route TF, hope some N scale green machines come your way this holiday.
TF, hope some N scale green machines come your way this holiday.
Thanks, and they did Mike
Last August I bought Atlas's limited release of Twin Cities & Western's for my brother's birthday. I thought while I was at it, I might as well get a set for myself
I couldn't justify buying Kato's new release of the SD40-2 GN's at the same time so Judy said she'd order them for me as long as I knew they were for Christmas. That was back in August when they first came out and giving them away.
And just a few days ago, Ed sent me one.
See! ...Now I have three!
Santa_Break by Edmund, on Flickr
I hope everyone's Yuletide was happy!
Congratulations, Kevin! What a wonderful gift...
[edit] I see we've been chosen to be on TOP of the Page!
Everyone's stuffed with Holiday Goodies? Well, here's a nice fruit bowl or for those with an appetie yet, Apple Pie ala Mode — New York Central style!
Diner by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Kevin. Congratulations on becoming a Grandpa.
Z28 Thanks for the update.
Now after a couple of days with the family, we can relax and celebrate Christmas quietly in our own way.
Santa was kind. I received three books on areas of my interest. Two on railways, the other road haulage. I also received a four wheeled carriage, which I will convert to a Director's Carriage of 1890s. Such carriages are not available 'off the shelf'. Hence the conversion job.
Three years ago on the 'Polar Express' with Granddaughter Number 1. Who do we see?
'The Big Man Himself'.
Merry Christmas
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Kevin, congratulations Grandpa!
Z28, thanks for the update!
York, sounds like a busy but worth it Christmas.
MisterBeasleyIt was a 1999 version with Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard) as Scrooge. A bit heavy on the effects, but not overdone. Somehow, they can't quite come up to the old black-and-white versions.
Cheers!
Mike
We watched A Christmas Carol last night. It was a 1999 version with Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard) as Scrooge. A bit heavy on the effects, but not overdone. Somehow, they can't quite come up to the old black-and-white versions.
The GF and Snowflake the cat went to bed a bit early, so I wrapped the last of the presents with assistance from Whiskey the cat.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Merry Christmas, everyone. I actually slept in this morning -- 6:00 a.m.
We're heading for the airport to pick up the first wave. By tomorrow morning, everyone will be here. I think I have the layout ready for the grandkids to run some trains and touch everything ...
1971_Z28, thanks for the info on Kevin. It's good to hear he has a grandchild. He will love it.
Again, I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas!
York1 John
Good morning
Wishing you all a very safe and Merry Christmas.
Merry Cnristmas to everyone.
Kevin brought his wife and daughter up to my house on Thursday in Orlando and we had a good time.
My boy took his wife and duaghter on a boat ride on our lake and Kevin and I hung out in the house and talked about trains and cars for a couple of hours.
Kevin saw my set up for the trains and had nothing but good things to say about it which was very kind of him because I know what we have built here is nothing like the kinds of models that you guys build in your homes.
He did not take any pictures and said he never takes pictures of other people home layout and that made no sense to me, but it is OK, the set up is not worth taking pictures of.
Kevin is a bit frustrated that he cannot post on the forum right now especially since his daughter out west went into labor while they were on the way up here and he is a grandpa now.
After the day at the house I took everyone to Vanberrys resraunt for dinner and we all had a real good time because the food was good and the weather was perfect outside like it always is in Orlando this time of year but Kevein insisted on taking care of the tab.
That is all, you all take care and be happy today.
Merry Christmas diners!
The lights are on, the coffee is brewing, and predictably, I'm the only one awake. That's OK by me. I don't mind a peaceful start to my morning. Santa made his stop yet again at our house, although he's a bit disappointed as there wasn't any Rum Chata left out for him.
I hope everyone has a joyous, blessed day. Take care everyone.
Quiet in the Diner today.
Santa in the Diner by David Harrison, on Flickr
Merry Chrstmas Diners. A large coffee please, Brunhilda. Give everyone a drink and put it on my tab.
Off to see family. Arriving home late tonight.
Have a good day everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YW41idRSfs&ab_channel=claudiog
A silent film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJaxr74euqc&ab_channel=claudiog
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Season's Greetings from the West Coast:
I got today and tomorrow off from work so I'm going to work on/update my model train collection. It's been raining heavy here since yesterday afternoon. Instead of snow like in other parts of the country, California gets rain around this time of year.
My Intermodal Hotshot is nearing completion. It's about 60-65% complete. There two other train's I'm working on, a 90's era Mixed Freight and a Late 90's-early 00's Automobile Special.
I just renewed my photobucket account a few weeks ago, Unfortunately I'm unable to upload any photos of my train around the christmas tree. I'll see what I can do about this.
I wish everyone out there a safe and happy hoilday.
Good Afternoon,
We will be having a very quiet Christmas with just the 2 of us. We may postpone the dinner until Sunday as my wife isn't feeling well. It isn't covid, just stress and lack of sleep. Glad we are staying home by ourselves what with the recent covid outbreak. We have been wearing N95 masks for some time now but I still avoid all crowds and 4 people now meet my definition of a crowd.
Think I might get the K5a Hudson on the tracks. It is my favourite loco but that little J4e Pacific is gaining fast. My dream layout would be mostly passenger trains.
Ed, I really liked the B/A ads. I sure remember those stations. I like the old Sunoco stations best even though they weren't around where I grew up. I have fond memories of working for Sunoco in the early '70s.
Have a nice Christmas,
CN Charlie
Good morning everyone, and happy Christmas Eve!
Got the ham in the roaster, sweet potato casserole is waiting in the fridge, pies are done, and the wife is doing the rest. Woohoo!
Not much like Christmas weather for these parts though. Keeps misting a light rain on and off. 40 degrees and gaining. Yuck! I miss a truly white Christmas. Seems they're becoming the exception instead of the rule. Might have to move north when I retire. I hear the Yukon is nice.
Hoping everyone has a happy and healthy holiday.
One for Brent
BA_Gasoline by Edmund, on Flickr
Merry Christmas! Ed
Good morning, everyone. Christmas Eve! I'll have bacon, eggs, and coffee.
Last day of cleaning! I should just hire a cleaning service. Of course, I would miss all that fun.
We will be spending this evening at church, and then I will do some driving tomorrow. One of the daughter's family will be flying into a small airport about an hour away. I'm glad they are landing there. Otherwise, it's a long drive to the nearest major airport. The other families are driving. It will be a wall-to-wall people in the house for several days.
Hope everyone has a good Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas!
John. We watched the film 'The Bishop's Wife' last night. Never seen it before. A charming Christmas film. Thanks for letting us know about it.
Good Morning All,
Merry Christmas Bear! 7am here so it's all on the wane for you.
Merry Christmas Eve to the rest of you and I hope you are all well or on the mend.
It will be a quiet day for us tomorrow with just immediate family and that may change as well. Middle son and his wife were exposed so they passed one test and are waiting on another now. If they aren't clerared, they will stay in the city. My daughter and her fiance may or may not come over either way to avoid exposure and oldest son, wife and grandson will be late as they want to start their own tradition of Christmas morning at home.
John- I thought the idea of turning a lighting rivalry into a donation drive was brilliant.
TF - Not sure I'd use a razor saw to cut my sandwich but to each his own.
David - Thanks for all the video links of late especially the Royal Scotsman. Now on my bucket list if I ever get to go back to England.
Batman - I had no appreciation for what flying entailed until I went in the Cessna with the CFO. It's busy even flying second seat with all the GPS and flight service and radar and - you get the picture. Then she'll get on a jet and say "here is exactly one instrument I recognize in the cockpit. I guess I could learn but it is just too busy for me. Much easier to sit on a train and watch the world go by at ground level.
All for now. It will be a short day here as I want to beat the rush home. No, actually that's a joke. There were exactly 5 sets of tyre tracks on the road in this morning and only one on the last bit down the hill to the shop. At any rate,
Merry Christmas to all, J.R.
Good afternoon Diners. I'll have the Christmas Special please, Flo.
A not too good a morning as Dawn is in great pain at the moment.
Preparing the turkey and beef today for cooking later.
Now all the children have gone home we can get the presents out from their hiding place to send to Santa.
Great pictures being posted. Loving it.
I have come across this film of a diorama from 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxyOl7ZVtt4&ab_channel=JackDemare-Instrumentalguitarmusicwithsoul
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require. Stay Safe.
Merry Christmas Eve everyone and Merry Christmas to the Bear! Judy and I got up early to prep food for our lunch feast before hitting the road.
gmpullman Second Place: Matthew Malkiewicz by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr Summit snowstorm by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Second Place: Matthew Malkiewicz by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Summit snowstorm by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq1r_M5a6uI&ab_channel=HeathrowAirport
Good evening from the Pacific Rim.
All the presents are wrapped and everything is done. Looks like we could have a white Christmas as temps are supposed to drop to -12c for the next several days. Very unusual for the mild West Coast. I love going for long walks in the cold with the dogs. Maybe I'll dig out the snowshoes.
I made sure the block heater was good to go in the truck, had to dig out the plug from behind the grill as I can guarantee someone will call for a rescue. Can't remember the last time I ever plugged the truck in.
I have been to PWRS to pick up my Christmas presents from Santa. I notice my points going up on the website over and above my own orders so others have been shopping for me as well. It is pretty good of PWRS to credit my account when others are getting me stuff.
I watch a lot of aviation videos, so much good stuff. If you ever wonder what goes on in the cockpit this is good. Sometimes I think I should have followed through with an aviation career but at the time it just wasn't right for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyn_Ik7x8OE&ab_channel=JustPlanes
That is a long trip down to Bears neck of the woods. I hope to do it again a couple of times before I get much older. I will sit up front in the big seats/beds next time. Couldn't afford that as a punk. Can't wait to go anywhere, this covid sure puts a damper on things. The South Pacific is heaven.
Alexa tells me it is 1703hrs December 24th in New Zealand. I saw Santa over Vancouver, heading SW towards Bears cave. He was getting a refill of rum and eggnog.
The kid says he is coming out early tomorrow and will stay two nights. His girlfriend is managing the local Safeway and will join us when she is done. Should be fun just the five of us.
Dave that photo of the single paw print made me bust a gut. Can I share it with some of our doggie friends? Given my wife and sister's place in the dog world, it could really make the rounds.
Have a great Christmas Bear and a great Christmas Eve to the rest of you.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Wave in a snowstorm by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
One for TF
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Track fiddler Oops! I stand corrected David TF
Oops!
I stand corrected David
No problem TF. Both Ribblehead and Glenfinnan viaducts are beautiful in their own way. Thankfully Ribblehead wasn't demolished as British Railways wanted to.
Here is another bridge British Railways wanted to demolish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Viaduct
With no thought of preserving their/our heritage.
The track has be lifted and now because the bridge is Grade 2 listed they have to preserve it. A railway bridge without a line. Yet if their was track there the line would be a secondary freight route south to Darlington & York; releasing space on the Main Line through Newcastle and Durham.
Similar looking but I did notice the Glenfinnan has some tall trees around it. I guess it pays to read before one watches the clip but I got some good history info out of my mix-up. Thanks
Off to the grocery for Christmas lunch tomorrow before we head out of town
Track fiddler That Glenfinnan Viaduct isn't too shabby either David. I never get tired of looking at it and I've seen it from so many different angles I feel like I know that Bridge. Thanks for that TF
That Glenfinnan Viaduct isn't too shabby either David. I never get tired of looking at it and I've seen it from so many different angles I feel like I know that Bridge.
Thanks for that TF
Pos...
I'll save that one
Nothing better than the Flying Scotsman creating her own billowing steam cloud across the beautiful countryside
Thanks for that