Steve, Glad you're making it through and recovering.
David, Perhaps now that England has exited, they can see about getting some more manufacturing facilities in place. I also remember reading that all the tube had to be redone as it was faulty as delivered.
Kevin, The heat really can take it all out of you. Please be careful.
This is from the Glenbrook in N.Z. It shows some of the structures inplace and the watering tower they were rebuilding with only the stand in place when we visited.
065 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Good morning, diners. I'm getting a late start this morning. The weather warmed up a little, 15°F, so I was able to walk outside on the trail again. It was nice to be outside for a while. The creek is frozen solid and covered with snow, so it's neat to see all the animal prints at and on the creek.
Ed, I love the ads for the dome cars. I watched those cars come through my town each day, and I dreamed of riding them to wherever. I only got one chance to do that as a kid.
David, it's too bad the UK gave up some of its ability to make and repair the locomotives that were invented there. I don't think any other country has done more to preserve its rail heritage than yours.
JR, that's a comfortable looking house you've moved into. Hopefully you'll get everything settled in and your trains will have a new home.
Mike, you have a nice-looking backyard, especially with that great shed you've got. Now you just have to get through the snow to the shed.
Steve, hopefully you're like almost everyone else I know and you won't have any serious effects of the virus. My son-in-law just came down with it yesterday. We're more worried about him because his health is not real good to begin with. Don't follow David's experience of ending up in the hospital.
Kevin, I hope you don't have any ill effects from overheating. It's too bad you have this heat wave exactly at the time you have heavy outdoor projects to work on.
Ed, those are neat photos of trains in the snow.
TF, I hope you are sleeping better. Nothing worse than laying in a bed at night, worrying and trying to sleep. That's a neat photo of you in front of your family's resort sign.
Jim, loading and unloading firewood! I used to do that a lot, but the past two years, I gave up my chainsaw and splitter, and I pay someone else to do it. They bring it to my house, but I still stack it. I actually miss the work a little.
Brent, that driveway looks like a lot of work to shovel. I would hate to do the whole thing by hand.
Tin Can, it sounds like your house work is progressing well. I know what you mean about removing the carpet. I also had to do that. The carpet itself took just a couple of minutes. It was the tile and glue that took forever. It was chipped out inch by inch.
Bear, I hope you are enjoying all of our complaints about snow and cold temperatures.
It's time for me to get some work done. There are lots of little projects I hope are finished by tonight.
To all the diners, those mentioned and not mentioned, I hope you all have a good and healthy Saturday.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Good evening Diners. A double whisky please, Zoe. Not feeling 100%. In fact neither is Dawn. We have both tested negative for Covid. The trouble is they say the testing is not always accurate???
Anyway, we are not going anywhere, so on we go.
In the train room I have been rebuilding the damaged bridge. I'll do some more work before dinner.
Dawn wants Burgers with all the trimmings -- Onion Fries, Potato Wedges, and Salad. I guess I shall be in the kitchen for some time. I generally make more than enough, so I'll leave them in the Diner.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Hey all, hope everyone is well. I had to get a cxxx test today. Hertest negative, here's hoping I am negative. I feel fine, I just had possible exposure to someone who does have it. Precautionary testing.Anyway, someone asked awhile back for a 3D printed trackside structure... Here is the only thing I have printed so far that fits that.
It's an Electrical box for a flashing crossing. HO scale printed in resin. We got our first real s((( storm yesterday--- all of 2 inches of the white stuff.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
We are getting freezing rain or what they call a wintery mix. Whatever they call it, it still means ice on the windshields and slick roads. We were it and about for a little bit. Now we're cozy and warm inside.
Kevin: please take it easy. We don't need another name in the "in memorium" column.
I've been getting several texts from work about people coming down with Covid. Seems odd. I ain't sayin nuthin else.
well, football season is winding down, which will leave the usual void in TV sports through the winter until spring when we can get the exciting golf season. The only time I watch football is on those grey days when it's cold and yucky out or else on a really lazy day. However, the Winter Olympics will be on next month. Looking forward to that. I suppose that if I were to ever try a winter sport it would be snow boarding because I used to skateboard as a kid. Looks kind of similar, but then again, I really don't know.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Evenin' everybody —
I feel the soreness setting in I spent about five hours shooting about twenty gallons of primer and ceiling white on about five rooms of the main floor at Dee Ann's family home. She and her sister are fixing it up to rent out and all the drywall was replaced.
Guess who has a Graco commercial pressure gun Still have the living room to do one day this week. Cleaning up the pump and gun takes about an hour! The results look great, though.
York1Ed, I love the ads for the dome cars. I watched those cars come through my town each day, and I dreamed of riding them to wherever. I only got one chance to do that as a kid.
I'll never forget my first dome ride back in '71 on the Abraham Lincoln out of St. Louis to Chicago at night. I loved watching the signals drop from green to red just as my location in the train was passing by.
This one should be right up your alley, John!
UP_Dome-diner-art by Edmund, on Flickr
Good to see you here, Jimmy Did you ever get a chance to look through those books I sent you some time ago?
I came across this Dapper looking Gentleman enjoying a mint julep on the observation platform. Sure reminds me of TF there, doesn't it
Dapper_Julep by Edmund, on Flickr
Too cold out for a mint julep right now. It was 12°F last night. I have a new cat visiting and I feel bad that she has to stay out in this cold. I leave warm food out for her (I think it's a her?) but she gets scared and runs off when I try to get close. I'm sure she was dumped off at the end of our street. Happens all too often
We got about eight inches of snow but things are supposed to warm up a little later in the week. Still haven't tried out the John Deere snow blower yet...
Everyone stay healthy and safe —
Cheers, Ed
gmpullman York1 Ed, I love the ads for the dome cars. I watched those cars come through my town each day, and I dreamed of riding them to wherever. I only got one chance to do that as a kid. This one should be right up your alley, John! UP_Dome-diner-art by Edmund, on Flickr\
York1 Ed, I love the ads for the dome cars. I watched those cars come through my town each day, and I dreamed of riding them to wherever. I only got one chance to do that as a kid.
UP_Dome-diner-art by Edmund, on Flickr\
Ed, that's another neat ad for UP's Domeliners! I rode my first one as a boy in the mid 1950s. We went from Nebraska to Tacoma, WA, to see a sick grandfather. It was on the City of Portland, and I spent most of my time sitting in the dome.
That trip started my lifetime interest in trains.
My Kato "City of Los Angeles" dome dining car:
This is my favorite set of train cars:
Great memories, John!
UP_Dome-Diner by Edmund, on Flickr
Those folks sure look happy being stuck in a coach yard somewhere. Probably finance and PR people offered a free meal if they would dress up and pose for a few photos.
I never got to ride the U.P.'s dome diners but I was sure lucky enough to enjoy a fine meal in the Turquoise Room on the Super Chief!
Turquoise Room_ATSF by Edmund, on Flickr
The private dining room was below the dome. Note the attendant already has an Amtrak name badge on. The dome had nice parlor-type swivel chairs.
Super Chief Dome by Edmund, on Flickr
Being a Pullman-Standard product the dome had the flat glass Still, sure was a nice ride
A bit of a resemblance.
The only Dome Car I have ever been on was a more modern Amtrak going to Chicago. It was a really cool experience and fun ride. We spent most of our time on that car.
Thanks man
A framed Pennsylvania for the dome car guy.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
TF
Good evening from the left side where it is hovering around 0c.
Considering we have winters where we never get to freezing, this has been a year of exceptions. Snow, wind, and record cold. Doesn't slow me down as I will go out and enjoy it in some fashion. Can't imagine growing up without pond hockey and skiing.
York1Brent, that driveway looks like a lot of work to shovel. I would hate to do the whole thing by hand
All done by hand, if this was a regular occurrence out here on the West Coast a snowblower for the Deere would be in order but most years my one and only snow shovel never even comes out. I consider shoveling a great workout. My Garmin Vivoactive4 said my heart rate was up to 138BPM while shoveling. Sure shows how the out-of-shape can end up having heart attacks.
Kevin, take it easy in the heat. If it is to be a regular thing best do some reading on all the minerals and other goodies you lose when you get dehydrated. You can keep going in the heat but will need more than water replenished to keep feeling fine. I suffered one leg muscle cramp incident while mountain biking in the heat that I do not wish to ever repeat, the heart is a muscle and can react the same way my legs did on that day, I got a lot smarter that day and was glad it was only my legs that crapped out without warning.
NorthBrit Not wishing to be Political, but one of the conditions to be in the European Union Britain had to close many manufacturing sites.
I love global economics, would love to hear the details of this. The shops that rebuilt the Royal Hudson and 2816 were so antiquated that the writing was on the wall as to their future. I think their dying breaths were those last two steamers. I lived in the same town and the shops were a ghost town by then.
Everyone seems to be eating pork these days including us, must be surplus pigs roaming the countryside as pork is quite cheap these days.
Our student guest from Singapore is quite an interesting young man, we have had many long conversations on world affairs. He is well-traveled for a 20-year-old and has a good understanding of what is going on in the world. Ours is the first "house" he has ever lived in during his life. Singapore is so tiny and everyone lives in small apartments. He does not quite know what to make of our big house on acreage with a herd of Golden Retrievers running around. He just knows he wants to stay in Canada, he will make a fine addition.
Like the rest of the world, we are suffering severe staffing shortages due to covid. I may have to go back to work yet. We have some sort of reactivation clause in the event of an emergency with my old Federal Government position. A lot of retired people are being called back in various fields. When I was actually working I had times I was called in and could not refuse, some things never change.
We have two close friends that pushed it a bit through the Christmas season on the visiting front and both are now in hospital. One of them kept pushing us to come to their usual Christmas eve bash and we refused. It is funny how it is the medical people that stayed away and are still fine. We get our 3rd shot Monday.
Spent lots of time in the train room yesterday, it was great. I still haven't opened my newest dome car yet but did manage the Jorden Spreader the other day, it is pretty cool.
Daughter should have returned to University yesterday but covid has chased them back to 100% online so I get her for another two weeks at least which means more piano filling the house.
Early grain loading.
Stay safe, keep well, 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 Diners. A cold, dry day here, so a bowl of porridge with a shot of whisky please, Brunhilda.
BATMAN NorthBrit Not wishing to be Political, but one of the conditions to be in the European Union Britain had to close many manufacturing sites. I love global economics, would love to hear the details of this.
NorthBrit
I love global economics, would love to hear the details of this.
Brent. I am not allowed to answer that. Not only because of Forum rules, but rules and Laws here in the U.K. I come under the Official Secrets Act. I have done since I was 16 years of age and do so to the day I die.
Warnemunde Railway Station, Germany.
A simple track plan that could be anywhere. In and out tracks with four platforms. I love this station. Water on three sides. A canal, a harbor and the Baltic Sea in front. Roads either side. The trees breaking the 'concrete' scene. To get from one side of the station to the other is a subway.
Stay Safe Everyone.
Good morning
Starting to get a nice steady flow of small jobs coming in again. As long as I can remember things always slow down a few weeks before Christmas to a few weeks after New Year's. I've always kinda enjoyed the time off but it's always nice to refeed one's sense of accomplishment and self-worth working on something again.
Removed 2' of base cabinet and installed a dishwasher last week was one of the funner jobs. They were the type of friendly people that wanted to look over your shoulder and talk to you the whole time you were there. The dishwasher was an El Cheapo with only one dial. When I took it for a test spin the motor clicked and nothing happened.
Nothing worse than looking like a Putz after you put in a few hours doing everything right and something doesn't work. After I read over the paperwork I usually throw over my left shoulder these days, I found out why. Nothing I did wrong but El Cheapo had to be pre-primed with a quart of water in the bottom of the pan and could take up to 4 minutes to start working. And GET THIS! The directions actually said if it doesn't start, tap lightly on the solenoid with a screwdriver handle. Never ran across that before, but then again I've never installed a cheap dishwasher. It ran like a champion after that.
My favorite part of the job finishing or remodeling basements was the paint sprayer Ed. One can move along quickly with his buddy back rolling behind him. That's a lot of repetitious waist bends from the ceiling to the floor. I remember coming home sore from almost any type of construction day when I was young let alone the age we are now.
I took good care of my paint sprayer. I remember spraying from the clean water bucket to paint soiled bucket, over and over until the water ran clear.
I had a good paint sprayer. Unfortunately that was one of my seldom used specialty tools in my tool trailer that got stolen. Unsettling when you work so hard your whole life to acquire nice tools and then one day someone just comes along and takes all your stuff in a second
That UP passenger set is a beauty John. Kato, Good wonderful stuff! I have a Great Northern, a Northern Pacific and a CB&Q Silver Streak Zephyr set. Those only range from five to seven cars, so the one you have is quite the deluxe set
Great photo of the train station in Germany David. It was fun zooming in and checking things out.
Well, Been sipping coffee since 5:00. I don't bring Judy back to work till 9:00, so time for another half a pot.
Have a great day gentlemen
Good morning everyone.
I just rolled out of bed after a solid eight hours, and I feel remarkably great this morning. I have time to go spread around some mulch out back and maybe dig a few more feet of footer trench. Then off to work.
Take care.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning everyone. Brunhilda, coffee and a Danish please.
John (York1), thanks for the kind words. I built that shed in the summer of 2019. I shudder to think of what it would have cost at the peak of lumber prices during covid. Talk about good timing. I had one guy help me stand the walls up as I sheathed them before standing them so they were HEAVY. Did the rest myself. (Well, I did make the family help paint it)
Got a bit more plaster cloth down last night in the area you first see as you hit the basement. It will be nice to get that area finished up so the layout gives a good first impression when someone enters the dungeon, err, basement.
Have a good day everyone.
Mike
Good morning from the not so wild West where it is 0c and sunny!
NorthBritBrent. I am not allowed to answer that. Not only because of Forum rules but rules and Laws here in the U.K. I come under the Official Secrets Act. I have done since I was 16 years of age and do so to the day I die.
No worries David, I wasn't expecting an answer, it was more of a rhetorical question. When someone says the ship sunk, I like to know why and usually go find out. It is just in my nature to be well informed. It makes the journey through life a better experience.
I also have a lot of pretty interesting stories from 36 years in logistics with the Feds. A lot of them I will take to my grave but as things change through time some secrets are just not relevant to today's world.
My kids were over here for dinner last night and we were talking about internet presence as our other visitor works in computer engineering and design. If you Google my son's name six pages of results come up about him because of his TV/movie work, sports writing, volunteer work, and now his professional title is quite high profile. My daughter has a few things come up as she did one movie and did/does well academically through school winning many competitions. I said to them you will not find my name anywhere on the internet and they took that as a challenge and the three of them tried their best but drew a blank.
Time to hop on the bike for cardio and then it is a long walk in the snow and sunshine to feed my soul.
All the best to all.
After several trips to the countryside this Fall, we finally saw our first Snowy Owl of the season today! It was a big all white male. Hopefully we will see more over the next few weeks.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hey all:
Day 5 since exposure, I feel fine. No symptons at all. Just took the test for peace of mind- and to protect those who are immunocompromised( Like me with my asthma).I've been printing stuff on my resin printer, like a fool.
I found that on Thingiverse, and am in the process of printing two of these out for a friend- in N SCALE at that! I've printed several HO scale motor vehicles and about 2 dozen figures in HO scale as well. I can share photos of those if anyone is interested. I'm waiting on two decoders to arrive- one a Loksound for an Athearn SD80Mac I picked up on evilbay. The outher is a tiny N scale decoder for an MP15 I customed painted into Carload express (See last weekend's WPF for pictures).
Good evening Diners. A coffee on the go please, Zoe.
Just a quick catch up on the news in the Diner.
Brent A great story. Reminds me of a similar situation. A woman finished up helping the 'Police' with their enquiries, shall we say.
Dave. Not seen a Snowy Owl, but a Barn Owl in the middle of the road, one night a good few years back. A beauty it was.
Got to go.
Take Care Everyone.
Good morning Diners. Wherefore art thou? Nobody to be seen at all.
I'll have a full English please, Chloe. A jug of coffee as well. Someone might join in.
Aln Valley Railway, Alnwick, Northumberland.
A charming little Heritage Railway. A photograph of the small workshop. The usual paraphanelia of workshop items can be seen.
Note the red and white chain rail. They must be proud of being Northumbrian as at the rear red and orange flags of Northumberland are hanging (in front of the A.V.R. sign). I am sure the volunteer workpeople are wary of the cable on the floor. The carriage under restoration is of 1880s design.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Perhaps not owned by the railroad but I believe these would qualify as "trackside Buildings" Yes?
Western_Maryland_209 by Edmund, on Flickr
Hagerstown, Maryland, October, 1937.
We have lots of Barred owls around us. I put up a home for them but so far... no takers That's great that you saw a snow owl, Dave!
Owl_Barred-1sm by Edmund, on Flickr
Thanks for the photo of the PRR "Big Engine" TF
JWB-PRR-CT-unnumbered-26 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Happy Monday, everybody — Ed
Good Morning All,
My apologies for not noticing I had top of the page. I never have been a good host. Brekkie is on me so order up. I'll have loaded hash and coffee please, Zoe.
David - You logged in at 5:24 so no except for sleepless TF you will be flying solo. At 5:24 I am just rising out of bed (I sleep in these days). I know you are 5 hours ahead of us but.... Love the shop photo and the stub ended station. Looks like the right had tracks end at a car float loader?
081 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
This is also from Glenbrook Vintage Railway. We got to go through their shops as part of the tour and ride.
080 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Makes the lathes I work on look like toys.
I agree it is great to ride in the dome and watch the signals flip. We got to do that on our one Via Rail trip from Montreal to Halifax and back. I was surprised so few took advantage of the dome car.
All for now, time to pick up tools and get to it. Ciao, J.R.
Hi J.R. Yes I logged on 5.24 am (U.S. time. 9.24 U.K. time) My previous post was 1.52pm yesterday U.S. time. Nobody in the Diner in between?
Not sure about a car float loader at Warnemunde. Everytime I have been there I have only seen the passenger carriages.
Goat Morning all.
survived our 3 inches of snow. It all metled off by Saturday. Not much going on. Trying to get more radios finished as more are in the queue to come in. I have been working on a German radio from 1956. Man I do not like working German radios way over engineered.
MLC - They didn't seem to break that habit either. The 70's Audi 90 and 100 were also good examples of over engineered and underdesigned. They had front drive and inboard disc brakes that took hours to service. There are other examples in the automotive world. I'd bet the woodwork on them is phenomenal though? J.R.
-10 actual without the triple F clause (Frigid Freeze Factor) taking Judy to work this morning.
I ain't about to put the Carhartt bibs on driving her a mile down the street and back. But I've gotten a little wiser as I nurse the truck up to the main entrance to go in the breezeway to sit on the electric radiant heat while the truck warms up
My mechanic Damien and I were talking last fall. A conversation of Tradesmen planning a trade. I'm installing a big sleeved air conditioner in the wall of his shop next summer, while he puts remote auto start in my truck.
He will be liking that in the summer as I will be liking that in the winter
I remember the pictures of those old-school radios you restore MLC. And a mighty fine job you do at that
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
I've had a busy couple of days. I hope things calm down a little bit today.
Track fiddlerThe directions actually said if it doesn't start, tap lightly on the solenoid with a screwdriver handle.
That should have been in every set of instructions on some things I've owned that had a solenoid. This reminds me of what I remember from Apollo 12's time on the moon:
"Bean [Alan Bean, Lunar Module Pilot] was instructed to try and fix the camera by tapping it with his hammer. He radioed, "I hit it on the top with my hammer. I figured we didn't have a thing to lose. I just pounded it on the top with this hammer that I've got." The capsule communicator in Houston joked, "Skillful fix, Al." Bean agreed. "Yes, that's skilled craftsmanship."
Kevin, have fun with your yard work. As much work as it is, think how good it will look when you're sitting in your lawn chair with a cold drink.
Brent, I'm the opposite of you. In my work, the last twenty years included news stories, some interviews, etc. I'm always amazed at the number of references that show up when I search my name. It's a little unnerving to see how much personal information is out there.
Dave, congratulations on the snowy owl sighting. That is a bird I don't believe I've ever seen in the wild.
Jimmy, nice work with the 3-D printing. If I was younger, I think that is something I would have enjoyed learning and working with.
Ed, that Western Maryland photo is amazing. Can you imagine living in or working in a building that close to those steam locomotives roaring by?
JR, old habits are hard to break. Even in retirement, I can't sleep late. I'm up before the sun even during the summer.
David, many mornings you are the only one who has posted before me. You have traveled the world so much, did you ever suffer from jet lag? I've never had that, but I guess my travels were slow enough to let me adjust.
MLC, I know you've done it before, but I'd love to see some pictures of some of your radio restoration work. I love that kind of stuff.
My only trackside structures on the layout were something I just put together in December. I didn't finish them -- I was just getting ready to landscape and put in some junk around the buildings when I quit. These will be saved for the new layout, but I'm not sure what they will be.
I hope everyone, mentioned and unmentioned, has a good Monday.
York1 David, many mornings you are the only one who has posted before me. You have traveled the world so much, did you ever suffer from jet lag?
David, many mornings you are the only one who has posted before me. You have traveled the world so much, did you ever suffer from jet lag?
Only once, John. I dislike airports. Flying back from New York, a few years back. It took ages to recover; about five days if I recall. I struggled every day to get to work.
When we flew back from Jamaica in 2018 we were okay!
I prefer to travel by sea. Suez and Panama Canals plus the Pacific Ocean were all ticked of, off my Bucket List. There are now too many restrictions due to Covid.
By poplar demand
Before
After
1930's RCA
1942 Philco
1925 Sonora crank phono
1950's RCA
If you want to see the guts, I have a youtube channel that shows restoration. PM me as I don't want to violate any forum terms by posting that link.
GMTRacing MLC - They didn't seem to break that habit either. The 70's Audi 90 and 100 were also good examples of over engineered and underdesigned. They had front drive and inboard disc brakes that took hours to service. There are other examples in the automotive world. I'd bet the woodwork on them is phenomenal though? J.R.
Actually the German sets of this era are quite plain wood work.