York1 The other day, I drove to a town about 40 miles away. In March each year, over a million Sandhill Cranes gather in a 30-mile stretch of the Platte River, and then they spread out north into Canada and even across Alaska into Russia. For some reason, their migration is shaped like a funnel, and the narrowest part is just near here. It's pretty spectacular for several weeks each March. I could see large numbers from the highway. This is not my photo, but this is what you can see from the observation platforms the Crane Trust has built along the Platte River in Nebraska:
The other day, I drove to a town about 40 miles away. In March each year, over a million Sandhill Cranes gather in a 30-mile stretch of the Platte River, and then they spread out north into Canada and even across Alaska into Russia. For some reason, their migration is shaped like a funnel, and the narrowest part is just near here. It's pretty spectacular for several weeks each March. I could see large numbers from the highway. This is not my photo, but this is what you can see from the observation platforms the Crane Trust has built along the Platte River in Nebraska:
John, I can rely on you for bringing me back childhood memories.
Ah yes, the Platte River. As they say, a mile wide and an inch deep.
When the cranes leave and the water is warmer, like in the summer days between school grades, there would be old cars and pickup trucks parked for the day on the shoreline. Teens in cut off jeans, tank tops, or girls with bikini tops sitting on lawn chairs on those sand bars in the middle of the river. Just walk across shin deep water and find the best sand bar.
Football's, volley balls, refreshments. Just like a gulf coast beach, LOL.
Just try to find a more isolated spot so you weren't too noticeble to the cops, who preferred that kids didn't party in the river.
- Douglas
Doughlesslike in the summer days between school grades, there would be old cars and pickup trucks parked for the day on the shoreline. Teens in cut off jeans, tank tops, or girls with bikini tops sitting on lawn chairs on those sand bars in the middle of the river. Just walk across shin deep water and find the best sand bar.
Those were great days! Your description is about the best of that time -- it was like a beach on the coast. I'm not sure if it still goes on, but I bet it does.
The worst memory I have of that time in the Platte River was in about a foot of water, a girl knocked me down in a football game and I lost my glasses. We never could find them, and I had to have someone else drive my car home.
It's interesting that in the 1950s and 60s, I don't remember a big deal made about the cranes. They were there, but no one I knew ever noticed. I think when someone found out the cranes would draw tourists with money, it became a much bigger deal.
Great memories of the high school years.
York1 John
York1 It's interesting that in the 1950s and 60s, I don't remember a big deal made about the cranes. They were there, but no one I knew ever noticed. I think when someone found out the cranes would draw tourists with money, it became a much bigger deal. Great memories of the high school years.
As it's evening, I'm going to order pancakes. Hey...you can have pancakes for dinner!
Not to bring a bad omen, but has anybody heard from spacemouse? Chip was very affable. I'm kind of missing the old guys. But I'm grateful a few good ones are still around (rich, tstage)
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good evening!
York1Before we leave Florida, we should see a scene from a place that was magical when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, Cape Canaveral, then Kennedy:
I've always been fascinated by the mobile launch platforms and the accompanying Mobile Crawler-Transporters. I believe these are still ALCO powered using V16-251-C engines (imagine, the engines were designed in 1951! IIRC the same ones used in PA passenger engines)
Alco_Nasa by Edmund, on Flickr
I recall watching the Apollo 13 (1995) movie and when the Crawler Transporters were in the scene the sound editors used EMD sounds for the diesel engines!
These crawlers are designed to climb a 5% grade and keep the launching platform level.
NASA STS-114_rollout by Edmund, on Flickr
The Mobile Launch Platforms were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding who was also a small player in the Locomotive Business.
Cheers, Ed
Ed, those crawlers are amazing to watch.
Florida Trains and Cape Kennedy:
KSC-2015-1800 by NASA Kennedy, on Flickr
Hello everyone...
All of a sudden,at 2:00 AM on a Wednesday, it suddenly seems I am able to post again. I was going to call Kalmbach on Thursday when I was off work. I guess that is not required now.
Too much to share, and I am too tired.
I will post more tomorrow, and a lot on Thursday.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning Diners. A snowy scene outside, so a bowl of porridge please, Janie.
Kevin is back. He was away so long, it is like he is a new kid on the block. Welcome back Kevin.
Well, yesterdays plans went awry. Family visited. No chance to run trains. No chance to visit the Diner as I thought i would.
Today is a busy day. Off to the Shopping Mall to collect various items.
Thoughts and Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good to see you Kevin!
Not much going on here, bracing for the severe weather.
back to w*rk
Great to SeeYou190
Oatmeal and coffee please. Nice and hot. We just got a winter weather advisory. Maybe someone should tell mother nature it's spring.
Good morning, everyone.
The diner has returned to the normal. Kevin is back! Welcome back, we missed you. It's too bad that the month your account decided to act up is the month the diner was in Florida.
It's cold and windy today. We may get some snow later today.
Has anyone heard from Bear lately?
Hope everyone has a great day.
From Florida's Gold Coast Museum -- the way railroad locomotives are supposed to look:
Welcome back Kevin!!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yes, welcome back, Kevin! It's good to see you again.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Yes, we have severed weather here too. Snowrth Dakota!
Welcome back, Kevin!
It has been a while since Ken posted; anyone hear from him off board?
Hey guys... thanks for all the welcome backs.
I contacted Kalmbach Customer Service via email a couple of weeks ago, but never heard back. I don't know if they had something to do with the fix or not.
I need to get to work now, and my wife is returning from Seattle tomorrow, so I will be busy and not able to post much over the next few days.
I will catch up as I can.
Kevin is back!!!!!!
Flo - Cake and RBF's for all!
YAY!
Hello to all, not staying as I am quite busy today, but still hanging around every now and then.
Hope all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Man my weather radio is going crazy right now.
Lots of severe stuff around.
Good morning everyone!
Further to the debate about where the Diner should be located for April, if my count is correct, we have a total of eight votes, three for holiday trains and five for stockyards. Therefore, given that they are both good suggestions, I propose that we use them both. We can do the stockyards in the month of April (seems fitting for April 1st), and then we can go on the holiday trains in May. How does that sound?
I eagerly await your responses.
Cheers!!
hon30critter I eagerly await your responses. Cheers!! Dave
I like your idea, Dave, although I'll be perplexed as the very first stockyard I've ever seen was while on vacation (holiday) in 1966 when my dad and I traveled west to the Rio Grande narrow gauge country and spent a night in a little "motor cabin" just down the road from the Omaha Stock Yards.
Omaha_Stockyard by Edmund, on Flickr
I see two of my favorite breeds there...
Filet and Mignon (no offense to the vegans out there )
No worries, though, I'll post in both April AND May Diners.
Attuvian1No doubt some of them will go waaay back.
Hey! I represent that comment!
You have my vote!
John and Ed,
Thanks for your input!
I have never personally been to a stock yard, or even a cattle ranch for that matter. The sheer logistics of keeping them all fed and watered boggles my mind. That also applies to the task of cleaning up their prodigious output!
Good morning Diners. It is snowing. A large coffee to go with a bowl of porridge please, Brunhilda.
Stockyards in April. Trains seen on vacation in May. I go along with that.
Friends visiting today. (Yes we have some.) Therefore I shall be playing teaboy
NorthBritStockyards in April. Trains seen on vacation in May. I go along with that.
Hi David,
Personally I'd much rather go on vacation in May rather than April. The weather in April is far too unpredictable for me to venture outside of my four walls and the train room.
Hi Dave. The magic of Wintertime.
Snow has fallen overnight. Store owners are clearing their part of the path outside as I walk down High Street in Inverness.
The bridge over the River Ness is ahead. I do not cross. Instead I turn left and walk. The river on my right, the castle to my left.
I stop and look at the river. It is wide and shallow. The sun shines. Hundreds of small patches of snow sail down the river. A river of 'diamonds glinting in the morning sunlight'.
Magical!!
gmpullman I like your idea, Dave, although I'll be perplexed as the very first stockyard I've ever seen was while on vacation (holiday) in 1966 when my dad and I traveled west to the Rio Grande narrow gauge country and spent a night in a little "motor cabin" just down the road from the Omaha Stock Yards. Omaha_Stockyard by Edmund, on Flickr I see two of my favorite breeds there... Filet and Mignon (no offense to the vegans out there ) No worries, though, I'll post in both April AND May Diners. Attuvian1 No doubt some of them will go waaay back. Hey! I represent that comment! You have my vote! Cheers, Ed
Attuvian1 No doubt some of them will go waaay back.
The picture you painted with words made the snowy river scene sound like really something to see David. Images from a camera don't do any justice capturing those rare life experiences when everything gels. When given one of those, one just has to live the moment
TF