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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner for September, 2023

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  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Jeffrey's Trackside Diner for September, 2023
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, August 31, 2023 10:28 PM

WELCOME TO:

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This month we are going to spend our time explring the beautiful Washington State, USA.

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Washington is the most Northwestern of the contiguous 48 states. It borders two other states, Idaho and Oregon.

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The washington state flag is a solid field of green with the officle seal of the State Of Washington in the center.

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PLEASE:

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At the beginning of every month we like to remember all of those who were once here, but have now departed. These are dear friends in our hearts forever.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, August 31, 2023 10:34 PM

Washington became part of the United States when it was ceded by the British Empire under the terms of the Oregon Treaty in 1846. In 1889 it became the 42nd state.

The largest city in Washington is Seattle, but the capital is Olympia.

The population of Washington is 7,780,000... including my baby/baby!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, August 31, 2023 11:25 PM

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for moving the Diner! You did a great job.

I had no idea that Washington's population was that large. My cousin Wini (not Vinnie) lives on Bainbridge Island and has for years. She loves it. I'm sure your daughter will love Washington too.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, August 31, 2023 11:35 PM

Here is the lowdown on railroading in Washington thanks to American Rails.com.

https://www.american-rails.com/wa.html

Here is a video showing the diversity of terrain along the rails:

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 1, 2023 12:17 AM

hon30critter
I'm sure your daughter will love Washington too.

So far she is thrilled to be living there.

She can see Mount Ranier from her bedroom window, and she has found out she loves the outdoors.

She has stayed inside 99.9% of her life, and now she has suddenly become an outdoorsman!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,832 posts
Posted by maxman on Friday, September 1, 2023 12:59 AM

SeeYou190

she has suddenly become an outdoorsman!

 

 
outdoors person?
  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, September 1, 2023 1:10 AM

How did it get to be September already!

Thanks for the move, Kevin Yes

Seattle at night:

 Michael Sawyer by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 1, 2023 1:12 AM

gmpullman
How did it get to be September already!

I have no idea!

Time flew by in 2023, that is for sure.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2021
  • 260 posts
Posted by Tin Can II on Friday, September 1, 2023 9:28 AM

My wife's grandparents lived in Seattle.  One of the highlights of a visit with them was a trip to the Space Needle, during which time the Blue Angels were performing at a nearby airshow.  Watching them perform under and around us was fascinating.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Friday, September 1, 2023 9:37 AM

Good morning, diners.  I'll have some Seattle coffee, please.

I was 11-years-old when my family went to the Seattle World's Fair.  What a great time!  Everything at the fair was aimed at a vision of the future, and it all looked so bright and neat.  I even got to see Roy Rogers there!

 

 

Have a great Friday, everyone.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Friday, September 1, 2023 10:16 AM

SeeYou190
The population of Washington is 7,780,000... including my baby/baby!

Hi Kevin. That population also includes me and my family. I'll see you and raise you; here's a photo of both my own (oldest) baby AND some trains, right here in Seattle.

This was many years ago. I've greyed since, and my daughter is now working on a medical assistant certification. But she still likes to go on goofy adventures with me. Lucky dad.

This was down at the hump yard at Interbay. I have read that BNSF is going to divest completely from this location, which makes me really sad.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, September 1, 2023 3:17 PM

Speaking of vacations...

It looks like my package from Maryland has decided to visit Denver for the weekend.

 Priority Vacation by Edmund, on Flickr

I wish I would have at least visited the box on Thursday when it was only 35 miles away in downtown Cleveland. At least it hasn't gone to Sydney, Australia (yet) which happened to one of the packages I sent to the Toronto area a while back!


 

It was called the rainbow era:

 BN, Seattle, Washington, 1971 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

One for the bridge guy:

 BN, Washtucna, Washington, 1978 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr


Flashback Friday: Fill up for the Holiday weekend, folks!

 Sunoco Custom Blend by Edmund, on Flickr

 1957 Bonneville? Star Chief, Super Chief?

 

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Friday, September 1, 2023 3:22 PM

Went to Seattle for the first time in my life a couple of weeks ago as me and the Mrs' partook in our great cross country drive from GA to WA.  Drove through most of the state of Washington on I-90.  Very remote and wide open in some places.

As it turned out, nearly the entire trip from Grand Island Nebraska to Seattle followed one of several BNSF mainlines.  Only really saw moving trains while in Nebraska, predictable unit coal trains from Wyoming moving east, and empties moving west.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 1, 2023 3:47 PM

Doughless
Only really saw moving trains while in Nebraska, predictable unit coal trains from Wyoming moving east, and empties moving west.

Isn't that amazing how in Nebraska we can see entire trains from miles away.

In Floroida, Georgia, and the Carolinas we can't see trains until we are within 300' of them in most times. And we can never see a complete train like that.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Friday, September 1, 2023 4:21 PM

gmpullman
It was called the rainbow era:

Ed, that's one of my favorite old photos. Lots of great old buildings in that photo. I remember my home city when it looked like that. Most of them are buried and invisible now among skyscrapers twice their height.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 1, 2023 5:09 PM

crossthedog
Hi Kevin. That population also includes me and my family. I'll see you and raise you; here's a photo of both my own (oldest) baby AND some trains, right here in Seattle.

I do not have any pictures of my kids with me and trains. I have a couple of them on trains that I took, but nothing like yours.

Great memory!

-Keviu

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, September 1, 2023 5:54 PM

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
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  • From: Finger Lakes
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Posted by howmus on Friday, September 1, 2023 6:00 PM

BroadwayLion

 

 

I'll see your Kitty...

And raise you his brother sticking out his tongue at you!

Good to see you Brother Lion!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Friday, September 1, 2023 7:04 PM

howmus
And raise you his brother sticking out his tongue at you!

That's hilarious. We have an orange boy just like that one, I sometimes refer to him as "Creamsicle Boy". Gentlest soul.

SeeYou190
I do not have any pictures of my kids with me and trains. I have a couple of them on trains that I took, but nothing like yours. Great memory!

Indeed it is, and I cherish all such memories. I dug up the post I wrote about that adventure with my daughter, back on my old blog. It's embarrassing that back then I didn't know not to call ballast "gravel", but it was before I got back into the hobby. If anyone is battling insomnia but doesn't want to take drugs to get some sleep, rest your eyes on this: https://bythedarkofthemoon.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/in-search-of-trains/

Some of you guys who worked on railroads might find the piece amusing, having a perspective from the other side of the roundhouse door, as it were. But be warned about wandering to other posts -- that was a very personal blog. Please don't take me to task for any ideas expressed there about politics or religion, or even parenting for that matter. I won't respond.

-Matt 

 

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Friday, September 1, 2023 7:40 PM

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Friday, September 1, 2023 7:43 PM

 you can thank the avalanch of adds for my last post. They pop up just when you try to post pictures.

Covering the screen...

Why bother?

 

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Friday, September 1, 2023 8:05 PM

one more time....

I'll see your cats, and raise you a lapfull of tuckered out kittys.

 

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, September 2, 2023 12:33 AM

Little Timmy
You can thank the avalanch of adds for my last post. They pop up just when you try to post pictures.

The bottom pop-ups, and the new side-scrolling pop-up are both obnoxious.

crossthedog
Indeed it is, and I cherish all such memories.

This 30+ year old picture of my middle daughter is one of my favorites. It is cropped out of a much larger picture, so sorry for the poor image quality.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

She is a software engineer now.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, September 2, 2023 1:06 AM

Little Timmy
I'll see your cats, and raise you a lapfull of tuckered out kittys.

My cats are all working cats:

 Sixteen Paws by Edmund, on Flickr

Here they are working their way up to dinner time.

  Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, September 2, 2023 11:22 AM

There was a discussion in a NCE forum about battery power for a portable outside layout.  In the midst of posts about amps, inverters and voltage, someone threw out the comment that he knows an Amish model railroader who use solar charged battery power for their model railroad.

That's the most amazing thing I learned this week.  Personally I don't know any Amish, but I see their horse drawn carriages, plows and riding bicycles uphill from town to home.  Imagining an op session with horses and carriages outside, their straw hats and kerosene lights running a consist of SD60's seems like the Twilight Zone to me.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, September 2, 2023 12:21 PM

BigDaddy
That's the most amazing thing I learned this week.  Personally I don't know any Amish, but I see their horse drawn carriages, plows and riding bicycles uphill from town to home.

I used to read the corporate newsletter when I worked for my previous employer.

One of the articles that stood out was about an electrical application sales team making a multi-million sale to the Amish community of back-up generators, transfer switches, and paralleling/load-sharing devices.

My first thought was that was like selling snow shoes in Columbia. What did the Amish community need back-up electrical power for? I honestly assumed they had no primary power.

I have since learned a lot about how wrong I can be when I make assumptions.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, September 2, 2023 12:57 PM

BroadwayLion

 

Looks like our younger cat, Whiskey.  He's affectionate and usually either asleep or hungry.

Neither he nor our lady-cat Snowflake ever tries to go outside, which we're happy about.  There are foxes in the neighborhood, and some are probably rabid.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Saturday, September 2, 2023 1:33 PM

Good afternoon, everyone.  It's getting closer to happy hour, so I'll just sit in a diner booth and wait.

Our lives have taken another drastic turn.  My wife got a new dog yesterday.  After our other dog, Daisy the Dachshund, died several months ago, my wife has been thinking "dog, dog, dog".  Our town's dog shelter found a deaf miniature Australian Shepherd that had been abandoned.  My wife scooped it up.

If I felt like I didn't get enough exercise, that is now taken care off.  This dog is active!

Have a great day, everyone.  I'm heading outside to walk the animal again.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Saturday, September 2, 2023 5:11 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
BigDaddy
That's the most amazing thing I learned this week.  Personally I don't know any Amish, but I see their horse drawn carriages, plows and riding bicycles uphill from town to home.

 

I used to read the corporate newsletter when I worked for my previous employer.

One of the articles that stood out was about an electrical application sales team making a multi-million sale to the Amish community of back-up generators, transfer switches, and paralleling/load-sharing devices.

My first thought was that was like selling snow shoes in Columbia. What did the Amish community need back-up electrical power for? I honestly assumed they had no primary power.

I have since learned a lot about how wrong I can be when I make assumptions.

-Kevin

 

Back when I was more involved with banking and lending, it was my understanding that the various parish's? of the Amish Church have slightly different rules about things.

One of the more common unknowns is that a lot of the no-electricity stuff doesn't apply to their businesses.  Some Amish are known as high quality cabinet makers that make it difficult for some high volume manufacturers to compete with. 

And no, the Amish aren't out-competing other busineses by using hand saws, hand screwdrivers, and mule-powered sawmills. 

Your order may have been for an Amish owned businesses. Some are known for being pretty shrewed and ruthless competitors.

They also have access to telephones, but the phones can't be inside the building, or something like that.

The rules have something to do with their personal houses, farms, transportation, being connected to the outside world via electricity and electrical wires. But many have normal jobs and go to work in normal factories...so the rules are a bit different when they are "on the clock" so to speak.

 

 

- Douglas

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, September 2, 2023 8:20 PM

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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