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.
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
Living the dream.
Welcome back, Kevin!
It has been a while since Ken posted; anyone hear from him off board?
Yes, we have severed weather here too. Snowrth Dakota!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Yes, welcome back, Kevin! It's good to see you again.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
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!
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:
York1 John
Oatmeal and coffee please. Nice and hot. We just got a winter weather advisory. Maybe someone should tell mother nature it's spring.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Great to SeeYou190
Good to see you Kevin!
Not much going on here, bracing for the severe weather.
back to w*rk
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
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.
Ed, those crawlers are amazing to watch.
Florida Trains and Cape Kennedy:
KSC-2015-1800 by NASA Kennedy, on Flickr
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
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.
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)
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.
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
Good Morning,
Another cool day here and cloudy too. Supposed to get a little white stuff tonight.
As for next month's location, I vote for holiday trains. Chicago stockyards has little appeal for me. There used to be a major stock yard here with 2 large packing plants. The only thing remaining is the water tower with 'Union Stock Yards' still visible on the tank. The smell was awful. I remember driving by when I was a lad. I far prefer Rovos Rail.
No plans for today. I missed on my bid for the N5d consolidation. In the last seconds as has happened before. It seems you can place a high bid that is hidden from others. Doesn't seem fair.
Coffee time,
CN Charlie
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
It was cold this morning for my trail walk, but the trees are budding, and the robins are all fighting each other, so spring is here.
Ed, I really like your photos of your layout's city. You have a real modeling talent.
Dave, the Chicago Stockyards sounds (not smells) good to me. Out in my part of the country, we call that the smell of money. I have nothing to contribute to that, but I will be interested to see what others post.
I'm not sure we will want to allow Lion or his friends anywhere near the stockyards.
NorthBritNot a lot going on here. Just taking things easy.
I'm in the same boat. After my busy weekend and Monday, I have several days where nothing is scheduled. It feels good to take things easier.
TF, when I was younger, I spent some time in Chicago. Your term "Spendy City" is accurate for me, too. I went through a ton of money.
Time for a late breakfast, and then time to lay more track.
KSC-2015-1806 by NASA Kennedy, on Flickr
Before 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:
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Chicago stockyards is fine although the stockyards has been extinct for some time. Might be a hoot! If that is too limiting, what about possible expansion to include stockyard or livestock operations. Farmer John's meat packing in LA is a humongous operation. It's been reported that they do three trains per day. I can still hear Vin Scully talk about "Eastern (meaning Nebraska) corn fed porkers brought in and dressed fresh locally." "Dressed" has kind of a grizzly conotation. I digress. Sorry, I don't have any pictures of the place. Anyway, if there isn't enough material on Chicago, the scope could be expanded.
im fine with whatever is chosen.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good morning
The Windy City you say?
We used to go to Chicago every spring just to have fun when that town was more relatively safe in most of the common areas. Took Amtrak down there and back a couple times.
Also the Spendy City I'd call it as it would rifle disposable money out of your pockets like running water. A lot of memories and stories I have from that town. Plenty of Railroad activity down there to say the least so Chicago sounds good to me Dave
TF
hon30critterI would like to make an alternate suggestion, although this one will likely raise a stink! How about we go to Chicago, or more specifically, to the Chicago stock yards!
A stockyard, Eh???
Possibilities it has!
You may think that not a lot is going on here,
But I can assure that the LION is pawing the ground waiting for a Wildebeestupon whom to POUNCE
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Chloe.
Not a lot going on here. Just taking things easy.
Will call in later.
Stay Safe Everyone.
Hi Dave. Chicago stockyards is fine by me. Just park the Diner away from the smell.
NorthBritJust a suggestion for April. We have all been on holiday one time or another. How about pictures of trains whilst on holiday? The different trains around the world.
Regarding next month's Diner location, David's suggestion above is the only input that I am aware of that anyone has offered to answer the location question. Well David, I guess it's up to the two of us to choose.
I would like to make an alternate suggestion, although this one will likely raise a stink! How about we go to Chicago, or more specifically, to the Chicago stock yards!
Many of us run stock cars or even full stock trains. Visiting the Chicago stock yards could be very educational. Mind you, many of the operations at the stockyards, regardless of their location, could be pretty disgusting. Imagine being a crew member on an offal train that has been delayed for several hours on a hot summer day because of a breakdown!
I make this suggestion partly in the spirit of April 1st, but I am serious about it. Just to be sure, I'm not suggesting that we park the Diner right in the middle of the stock yards. That would kill a lot of business for sure!
Okay guys! Now it is up to you! You get to choose between the smell of hot offal on a summer's day, or going on a bunch of different holiday trains. If I don't hear from you then, with apologies to David, we're going to Chicago!!
Cheers!!
P.S.
I apologise to anyone who thinks that I am out of line for 'demanding' that you choose where the Diner will go. All of the above was intended to be tongue in cheek. If I have offended you, please let me know and I will change my approach for next month. Visiting the stockyards could be very interesting. Just watch where you step!
I bet your Feed Mill's glad it got a second life. It appears your city is growing rather quickly and looks Excellent Ed
I've snuck a few screenshots and took a few notes on your parking lots, roads and crossings
Before there was YouTube:
Ozzie and Harriet by Edmund, on Flickr
I've had some YouTube commenters ask me why my sound wasn't working on some of the old 8mm movies I posted that my dad took in the 1950s. Kids these days...
You can fix aeroplanes by Edmund, on Flickr
up831Nicely done, Ed. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Thank you, Jim! I appreciate the compliments I was rolling along pretty well on that scene when I decided to look for the remainder of my Blair Line laser-cut wood crossings. I know I had some left over from this past project:
Crossing_grade1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Well, I just caved in and bought some more One thing I'll say about this present structure arrangement is that I'm using buildings I made some ten or fifteen years ago that I never thought I'd be using again. The feed mill has been sitting on a shelf since 1997 (I wrote the date inside) and now it will be front-and-center!
Midplan_final-overhead by Edmund, on Flickr