Track fiddlerKevin, they had a clip on the raining iguanas in Florida this morning.
I don't know much about the falling iguanas since it is a phenomenon that happens further North than where I am at. We very rarely get temperatures below 40, and we have very few ancient Oak Trees this far South.
Up in Sarasota-Tampa they have old trees over the roadways and colder temperatures. Supposedly frozen Iguanas fall into traffic.
I have seen plenty of huge wild iguanas, but none that were frozen.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Nice progress on the layout dismantling project John. Thanks for the pictures.
Well, we're off! Judy and I decided to do something about the Cabin Fever mid-winter blues this morning. They are having the Fire and Ice Festival in Stillwater Minnesota. All the colorful hot air balloons will be floating around and I think she said ice sculptures and a castle maze to look at. Warm, 30°F today
Stillwater in the summertime.
Have a great day gentlemen
TF
York1 Good morning, diners. Please bring some black coffee. While you're at it, bring bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and some link sausages. And some whole wheat toast. And more coffee. It was a nice walk this morning. At 21°F this morning, the walk was enjoyable. When it gets down below zero and the wind is blowing, the walk is not as nice. However, I'm so used to walking 2½ miles each morning that if I don't, I don't feel good by afternoon. We are supposed to get some snow Tuesday, but so far this season, we have dodged the big storms. They have all gone around us. I don't mind, but my wife likes the snow. She doesn't clean walks and driveways -- she watches from inside while I do that. All of the buildings are now off the layout. Today, I will tackle the track and the hills. Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will be ready to start laying out the new track plan. Then, off to the train store to buy the track. Fun! Two weeks ago: Today: I'm enjoying working on this! I hope everyone has a good Saturday.
Good morning, diners. Please bring some black coffee. While you're at it, bring bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and some link sausages. And some whole wheat toast. And more coffee.
It was a nice walk this morning. At 21°F this morning, the walk was enjoyable. When it gets down below zero and the wind is blowing, the walk is not as nice. However, I'm so used to walking 2½ miles each morning that if I don't, I don't feel good by afternoon.
We are supposed to get some snow Tuesday, but so far this season, we have dodged the big storms. They have all gone around us. I don't mind, but my wife likes the snow. She doesn't clean walks and driveways -- she watches from inside while I do that.
All of the buildings are now off the layout. Today, I will tackle the track and the hills. Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will be ready to start laying out the new track plan. Then, off to the train store to buy the track. Fun!
Two weeks ago:
Today:
I'm enjoying working on this! I hope everyone has a good Saturday.
Do you have your photos backwards, or are you removing items from your layout?
Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA
York1 John
Good morning
Glad the ones affected rode the storms out okay. Seen some of if on the news this morning over coffee.
Kevin, they had a clip on the raining iguanas in Florida this morning. The news lady said this should give you something to talk about today I wonder if some get hurt or if they're smart enough to move to lower limbs before the fall.
I collected the granddaughter okay. Because of the number of fallen trees in the storm we have decided to stay home.
After lunch we shall be in the train room.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning Diners:
I'm currently enjoying my large coffee and blueberry pancakes sitting next to the woodstove looking to ride out the blizzard in MA. If we don't lose power, it's seems like a good day to work on the layout.
Steve
Good morning Diners. A large coffee on the go please, Chloe.
At the moment we are riding out a storm. Some minor damage that is easily fixed. The broken glass is a little worry. If that is all there will be, that is okay.
Collecting younger granddaughter. She is staying overnight.
Stay Safe Everyone.
Someone asked how my ceiling work was progressing.
I installed a new return inlet for the HVAC system. I have a few more days of work to do. We have not had the A/C for several days. I hope the cool weather holds.
It is supposed to be very cold tomorrow night.
York1That is exactly what happened in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Irma was the last "Big One To End All" that I remember. The Weather Channel predicted Florida would take 15-20 years to recover from all the damage we were going to get.
It was a bad one. The eye passed within 10 miles of my house at Cat-3 strength. However, it was no where near as destructive as other Cat-3 storms before it had been.
All the reporters quickly packed up and went home.
I think fewer people will take forecasts seriously, and then the next real bad one could be our Katrina.
SeeYou190Hurricane forecasts are always over-catastrophized, and that leads to people not taking them seriously when they should.
That is exactly what happened in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
For years, weather forecasters and cable news stations made every storm sound like the end of the world. I can't tell you how many hurricanes were going to be the "big one".
Finally, when one did materialize, there were a lot of people who didn't leave because they were conditioned to hear stuff that never happened.
MisterBeasleyOur snow forecasts are generally over-catastrophized, so I don't expect that much.
Do the forecasters that report on incoming Hurricanes travel North to your region for the Winter?
Hurricane forecasts are always over-catastrophized, and that leads to people not taking them seriously when they should.
Snow coming. We're supposed to get 5-8 inches tonight and another 1-3 inches tomorrow. Our snow forecasts are generally over-catastrophized, so I don't expect that much. This is the storm that's going to make a huge mess of the big train show in Springfield, MA, this weekend. As a former resident of Massachusetts, this is not a storm I would plan to drive in.
Their made-up phrase for what my happen to this storm is Bomb Cyclone. I actually got caught in one of those a few years ago with the GF in Maine. Yes, there was a lot of snow, a couple of feet overnight. We were at a coastal resort hotel, so had no shoveling to do. In fact, places in Maine take snow events like this in stride, and we got up and drove into town for a delicious breakfast. No problem. The parking lot and the streets were clear.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
SeeYou190 I better share something relative to this month's theme before it is over! -Photograph by Kevin Parson OK, I feel better now. -Kevin
I better share something relative to this month's theme before it is over!
OK, I feel better now.
hon30critterThis month we are going to feature track side structures that are not stations or freight sheds, although there won't be any complaints if a few of those are thrown in.
We're still in the single digits here in Ohio. Supposed to get a slight warm-up on Wednesday, 40 and rain, then more cold behind that. Ice anyone?
So odd to hear about the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh this morning. Just yesterday I came across my old post card photo of Frick Park as I was uploading other steel mill photos (Henry Clay Frick was a big mover and shaker of the US Steel and Pennsylvania Railroad back in the day. Some of the Johnstown Flood was his liability) The bridge spanned an area of Frick Park.
PC_Monongahela_10 by Edmund, on Flickr
Another neat poster from yore —
Cunard_LNER by Edmund, on Flickr
My favorite trackside building in Thurmond, West Virginia:
Thurmond, West Virginia by Edmund, on Flickr
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their day —
Cheers, Ed
It is going to get very cold this weekend... SO... FALLING IGUANAS!
This is a real thing, welcome to Florida.
hon30critterWell that could get annoying real quick! Our snow removal guys often show up in the early hours of the morning but we rarely hear them, thank goodness.
That is one of those times that happiness is being deaf! Actually I hate being deaf, but I sure had fun losing my hearing! ;)
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
hon30critter I am soooo glad that I don't have to deal with the snow anymore! Dianne sometimes will go out to clear the sidewalks and the hot tub if our snow removal guys haven't been able to get to us yet, but that's her choice. I just roll over and go back to sleep.
I am soooo glad that I don't have to deal with the snow anymore! Dianne sometimes will go out to clear the sidewalks and the hot tub if our snow removal guys haven't been able to get to us yet, but that's her choice. I just roll over and go back to sleep.
Water Level RouteThen, at about 3 am someone showed up to plow the church parking lot that is next door to the house, complete with back-up alarm on whatever they were using.
Hi Mike,
Well that could get annoying real quick! Our snow removal guys often show up in the early hours of the morning but we rarely hear them, thank goodness.
I have discovered that one of the benefits of being retired is that I don't have to go outside in the winter very often. Suits me fine!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Morning All,
21F this morning but it feels much warmer than that. I'll just have a regular to go please. It's been below freezing for about three weeks now but the good thing is it's getting lighter earlier now so we will soon be easing our way out of winter.
Yard House in PBG is good Kevin, I agree. We left when the band started even though I like music and held a union card for almost 20 years because it was just too much and we couldn't even hear each other. I'll be there in a couple of weeks again as it is right behind our race headquarters hotel and we can walk to it.
Prep for the first event is getting hairy as we are hitting all sorts of snags including a couple of lost shipments. I expected that around Christmas not after but Fed Ex lost a $2600.00 socket and an entire wiring harness for the Audi. Fortunately we had spares for both.
Lots to do so I best get after it. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning, diners. No breakfast yet, I'll be back later. I'm out the door to a 7:00 a.m. meeting. Of course, that's the middle of the day for me, and bedtime for my wife.
Anywhere the diner lands is good for me.
Good morning guys. Brunhilda, a large stack of blueberry pancakes, side of bacon, and the whole pot of coffee please.
SeeYou190I have been to the The Yard House in Palm Beach Gardens many times. One of my favorite hotels is less than a mile away. The beer selection was great, but the music was just a bit too loud for a restaurant. There was no way to have an enjoyable conversation about the beers.
So we haven't had anything more than a dusting of snow for a couple days now, and yet the city keeps coming by trying to push the banks back and filling in the end of my driveway with the wet heavy stuff. I wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't do it day after day, or if they made headway, but funny thing is they keep running into the curb doing it, so filling the ends of driveways with snow is all they really accomplish. Then, at about 3 am someone showed up to plow the church parking lot that is next door to the house, complete with back-up alarm on whatever they were using. I recalled seeing essentially no snow in their parking lot last night and in fact there were multiple spaces of bare pavement, so I assumed we got snow overnight. Nope. Guy just wanted to soak the church for a little money and wake all the neighbors in the process. Sorry. Rant over.
Went downstairs to run trains last night and realized I still had tape over parts of the mainline where I've been working on some scenery. I'm kind of stuck on how I want to handle the next steps, and I've burned through a lot of tape already working on this section so I just stared for a minute and went back upstairs. No matter what path I take for the next steps, it will be messy and I wasn't in the mood for messy last night.
Happy Friday everyone!
Mike
I just went outside and saw an amazing sight.
The sky looks like a back-lit color panel tonight. The horizon is a red/purple color, and the upper part is blue/gray with green and blue streaks heading down towards the red/purple.
It is amazing to see. I have never seen the Northern Lights, but this is pretty cool. I have never seen a night sky like this.
I tried to take a picture, but it did not show up well in the camera frame.
I wonder what is causing this?
SeeYou190The beer selection was great, but the music was just a bit too loud for a restaurant. There was no way to have an enjoyable conversation about the beers.
Hi Kevin,
I hate loud music in bars and restaurants. What's the point of going to a bar to socialize with your friends if you can't hear what they are saying?
Water Level RouteI'll treat at one of the most impressive bars I've been to. Yard House in San Antonio.
Thanks Mike!
I have been to the The Yard House in Palm Beach Gardens many times. One of my favorite hotels is less than a mile away. The beer selection was great, but the music was just a bit too loud for a restaurant. There was no way to have an enjoyable conversation about the beers.
Evening
Not much snow Charlie, I would guess we've only got a couple feet this year packed to a foot or less out my window. Not far north of here they they always get more.
Thanks for the name of that video I think I'll have to get that one.
gmpullman Quite cool this evening but warmer than yesterday. One day last week was minus 3°F. I hope the two stray cats that visit here hase someplace at least a little warm to stay.
Quite cool this evening but warmer than yesterday. One day last week was minus 3°F. I hope the two stray cats that visit here hase someplace at least a little warm to stay.
DigitalGriffinHave we done the Caseey Jones diner in Ronks PA?
Hi Digital Griffin,
I don't recall having visited that particular location. It is in an original Pullman dining car, and apparently there is a hotel next door that uses cabooses for the rooms. Sounds interesting.
Here is the Trip Advisor review if anyone is interested:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g53573-d410525-Reviews-Casey_Jones_Restaurant-Ronks_Lancaster_County_Pennsylvania.html
Any votes for Casey Jones?
Quite cool this evening but warmer than yesterday. One day last week was minus 3°F. I hope the two stray cats that visit here have someplace at least a little warm to stay.
Water Level RouteEd, did you get the snow we got up here?
Not so much. We got about two-feet on MLK day then sporadic hit-or-miss sprinklings of maybe an additional foot. With a few sunny days in between some has compressed (not melted but maybe evaporated a little?)
The darned European Starlings swoop in and empty my feeders in about two hours . So it goes...
A pretty trackside coal mine?
Youngstown_Sheet_Tube_Nemacolin by Edmund, on Flickr
Neat details here in thes colorized photo of Youngstown Sheet & Tube:
Youngstown_Sheet_Tube_Entrance by Edmund, on Flickr
These are from a 1949 commemorative book I have about the mill.
I hope everyone is doing well these days —
TF, the video isn't on line. It is a DVD from Greg Scholl Productions titled 'A Last Look At Steam' that I purchased. Do you have a lot of snow this year? We've had about 4 feet that has settled out to about 2 feet in our back yard. In front there is a drift of 3 feet.
Time for tea and tellie
CN Charlie