I think that David is going to be very dissappointed that he has missed his opportunity to post his holiday train experiences. Hopefully he will get back from Norway before month end so he can contribute to the theme.
I have had one train vacation, and it was very memorable! In 1965 my Mom and I rode 'The Canadian" from Toronto to Vancouver and back. I was 11 years old. The sights were amazing, and I had quite the adventure on the first night out of Toronto (some of you have heard this before but it is worth repeating). I met a young lad who was about three years older than I was. We hit it off instantly. He had been talking to the Conductor asking if he could get a ride in the cab. The Conductor asked the Engineer and the answer was yes, and I was invited to go along too!
We climbed into the FP9A (I believe) cab in Sault St. Marie in the middle of the night and rode for several hours. There wasn't much to see because it was pitch black outside, but I do remember seeing a few deer in the headlights and the rocks and the trees going by. I also remember the Mars light searching the sky. I didn't know what its purpose was at the time, but it provided an interesting effect.
I also remember freezing my butt off! There was a fair amount of heat coming into the back of the cab from the engines, but that didn't offset the cold air from the open windows. The crew seemed to enjoy the fresh air.
The rest of the trip was very enjoyable too. I was totally in awe of the fancy dining arrangements. The scenery was also very entertaining. We got to watch antelope racing along beside the train on several occasions on the prairies, and we saw St. Elmos Fire on our way through the Rockies at night.
It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, although Dianne and I are interested in the Rocky Mountaineer if we ever win the lottery.
Cheers!!
Dave
Edit!! Top of the page! Scotch eggs all round!
Dianne made a few absolutely divine scotch eggs a couple of days ago. She found a new technique for wrapping the eggs which is much faster and easier. All you do is put the pork mixture on a small piece of plastic wrap, put another piece of wrap on top, and then flatten the pork out until it forms a thin sheet. Then you take the top sheet off, put the egg in the middle, and then use the bottom layer of wrap to form the pork around the egg. Easy peasy!! No messy hands!! Try it!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
For anyone who is interested, I got an email from Ulrich a couple of days ago. His new house should be finished in time for them to move in before Christmas. Apparently it was on hold for a while for reasons he didn't explain, but they are now making progress.
He suffered yet another heart problem so that had him down for a while but he is on the mend now. He also announced that he and Petra have decided to stop paying attention to the world's problems. The negativity was depressing him and there was absolutely nothing that he could do to fix the problems, so he has decided to ignore what is going on. I hope he can succeed at that.
He sounded a bit more upbeat than he has in the past so I hope that will continue.
hon30critter For anyone who is interested, I got an email from Ulrich a couple of days ago. His new house should be finished in time for them to move in before Christmas. Apparently it was on hold for a while for reasons he didn't explain, but they are now making progress. He suffered yet another heart problem so that had him down for a while but he is on the mend now. He also announced that he and Petra have decided to stop paying attention to the world's problems. The negativity was depressing him and there was absolutely nothing that he could do to fix the problems, so he has decided to ignore what is going on. I hope he can succeed at that. He sounded a bit more upbeat than he has in the past so I hope that will continue. Cheers!! Dave
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Track fiddlerEwe ever notice your sandwich never looks even close to the photos on the menu board?
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Just coffee this morning. It's Sunday donuts later in the morning.
Well, I see we're back in the weird world of pages 5-6-7. Last month we got off the pages pretty quickly, so hopefully we can do the same this month.
My wife still watches the news, but for about a year, I've done what Ulrich is doing. I don't watch the news, and our little town's newspaper is all local. I cannot do one thing that will change the world or national mess, so I can put it out of my mind. My days are much better spent working on a railroad than worrying about something completely out of my control.
Kevin, my wife has a fit when I do sheetrock work. She hates the dust from the sanding. I may have to try Dave's suggestion in case I ever have more wall work.
I have also been wondering about Henry. I know he had surgery, but was having real pain issues. Hopefully he is doing better and will get back to us.
We're heading out of the house right now, so I will try to check in later. I hope everyone has a great Sunday (or Monday for those of you in that other hemisphere.
As a boy, I rode this train for two days and nights to Tacoma, Washington, to visit my sick grandfather. That trip started a lifetime of loving trains.
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."
Trains I Have Seen On Vacation #12
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
hon30critterHave you ever tried using a damp sponge to smooth out the drywall compound? If the compound is really uneven the sponge doesn't work very well, but if all you are removing is a few trowel marks it works pretty good.
I use a sponge for final feathering and trowel marks. They work great.
Right now I am still in the living room. With this project before, I had replaced ALL the drywall in the master bathroom, kitchen, and guest bedroom. I also installed an all-new drywall ceiling in the lanai.
With all new drywall, it was a matter of taping factory joints, corner beads, and inside corners. This was pretty easy.
When I did the dining room, I had four 10" by 12" drywall patches where the new wiring was run to the wall fixtures. These patch panels were not too bad, but they were four taped butt joints, and I had to learn to feather those in.
Then the living room...
In the living room, only one new wall was built. This is the wall that goes to my closet in the master bedroom.
I also added two small closets (coats and games) each 18 inches by 40 inches. Taping and mudding inside a small closet is miserable.
The living room is the hub of the security system, modem (Cat Cable), and has the home theater system. This all required a lot of speaker wires, Cat Cable, coax, and other in-wall modifications. I think I ended up with 22 access patches all about 12 by 12. I also replaced all the device boxes in the walls because the original 33 year old plastic boxes were all falling apart. These all required wall patches too.
The ceiling in the living room had two massive (36" by 72") access holes cut into it to replace the HVAC duct board manifolds.
So... using a 16" trowel to feather out all of these taped butt joints has taken forever. Add to that the fact that I am a perfectionist and probably had everything "good enough" weeks ago.
Anyway... This has been too much taping and sanding.
hon30critterHe also announced that he and Petra have decided to stop paying attention to the world's problems. The negativity was depressing him and there was absolutely nothing that he could do to fix the problems, so he has decided to ignore what is going on.
I have done the same thing. I watch the weather reports, and that is all.
Being a well-informed citizen for 40 years and keeping up with the world has amounted with me having absolutely zero effect on anything.
I am much happier now.
JaBearWithout wishing to come across as demeaning to Kevin’s photographic skills.
What skills?
I belong to a couple of amateur online photography groups. These guys post pictures, and other folks make suggestions to improve the pictures.
The pictures needing advice are all 10 times better than my best effort. The skill of these people amaze me, especially the people that photograph their kids. I wish I had pictures of my girls like some of those. A beaitful photograph is priceless.
I don't have the ability (or time) when taking landscape shots to have perfect natural light. These people find the perfect shot, then wait hours for the light to improve. My wife has waited sometimes for a cloud to move, but I would never ask her to wait for hours. I am a victim of weather conditions when I am travelling and taking pictures.
I read all their posts, and learn what I can, but I have nothing to contribute.
I am glad the people here let me share.
As best as I recall, I have explained how I make photographs when asked, and answered a few questions. I hope I have never posted unsolicited suggestions or criticisms of people's photography in here. I love seeing everyone's pictures.
York1Kevin, my wife has a fit when I do sheetrock work. She hates the dust from the sanding.
Mine too.
Part of the reason this is taking so long is because I only do the sanding when she is in Seatlle with our grandson.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Well, my last two efforts to post in the diner have gone poof over the last few days, so we will try again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG-uGsJYJ7M&ab_channel=BATTRAIN1
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN Well, my last two efforts to post in the diner have gone poof over the last few days, so we will try again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG-uGsJYJ7M&ab_channel=BATTRAIN1
How sweet and cute!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Here is one more for good measure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgvgjt_B1rk&ab_channel=BATTRAIN1
SeeYou190I use a sponge for final feathering and trowel marks. They work great.
Hi Kevin,
I should have known that you know what you are doing when it comes to drywall. I apologise if my suggestion offended you.
hon30critterI should have known that you know what you are doing when it comes to drywall.
Not really, I am working my way through it, and learning as I go. I watch the pros and I am amazed. There is a guy on YouTube called "Vancouver Carpenter" that is an artist with mud & trowel. He can do in 60 seconds what takes me two days.
hon30critterI apologise if my suggestion offended you.
Never! Suggestions are never offensive.
I appreciate all input.
SeeYou190There is a guy on YouTube called "Vancouver Carpenter" that is an artist with mud & trowel.
I have watched many of his videos. He is very talented, and he is Canadian EH!
I'm glad you took my comments in stride. Sometimes it is hard to make the difference between being a 'know-it-all' and just offering advice.
By the way, there is a distinct benefit to sanding drywall! Your teeth will never be whiter!
Trains I Have Seen On Vacation #13
hon30critterI have watched many of his videos. He is very talented, and he is Canadian EH!
When he takes a 16" trowel, slaps it full with about a pound of mud, then swipes it across a wall and leaves a 48" long layer of mud that is glass-smooth I just want to jump into the TV and smack him!
If I try something like that, 80% of the mud goes onto the floor, 15% on me, and the remaining 5% is just a rough splotch on the wall.
Good morning diners. Hope everyone is doing well today. Chloe, bacon and eggs please.
Had a productive weekend outdoors, but alas, no time with the trains. Such as it goes the first few weekends of nice weather I guess.
SeeYou190When he takes a 16" trowel, slaps it full with about a pound of mud, then swipes it across a wall and leaves a 48" long layer of mud that is glass-smooth I just want to jump into the TV and smack him!
Have a good one fellas!
Mike
Pullman knows vacations:
Pullman by Edmund, on Flickr
So does the South Shore —
CSSnSB_Dunes2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Here it is another Monday — on the right side of the grass at least
Cheers, Ed
Good day Diners. A large coffee with cream please, Chloe.
Back from sunny Norway.
Here is a short film of the Flam Railway. A favourite train journey of mine. Travelled on it both in Summer and Wintertime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYKt-Kt5vRA&ab_channel=allthegoodiesTRAVEL
Stay Safe Everyone.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning, everyone. Bring some black coffee.
Welcome home, David. I hope your Norway trip went well.
I looked at our family calendar for the next month or so, and it looks like we are busier than I like. Add to that yard work, and I'm going to be short of time for layout work.
The approaches to my layout bridge are going to be some short plate girder bridges. I know that depending on the railroad, some of the bridges had ballast and some did not. If you have plate girder bridge on your layout, did you ballast the track?
Hope everyone has a good day.
York1 I know that depending on the railroad, some of the bridges had ballast and some did not. If you have plate girder bridge on your layout, did you ballast the track?
Doesn't depend on railroad. Depends on type of girder bridge.
Ballasted deck girder bridges get ballast. They have a trough to contain the ballast.
Open deck girder bridges don't get ballasted. They don't have a trough to contain the ballast. Any applied ballast would fall through and rain on whatever is beneath.
That said, railroads might have a preference as to the type of girder bridge they use.
Trains I Have Seen On Vacation #14
Right here in Florida
NorthBritBack from sunny Norway.
Welcome Back!
You were missed.
Thanks for the welcome back Gentlemen.
A Garratt locomotive at Caernarvon Station on the Welsh Highland Railway.
Caernarfon Station with a Garrett by David Harrison, on Flickr
NorthBritBack from sunny Norway
Are you pulling our legs? ('merican for cow patties.) I didn't see much sun when I was in Northern Quebec, looking for caribou which weren't there. We now have a goverment Ministry to deal with that sort of malarky. (Steve please have a sense of humor)
Haven't looked at the forum in weeks. I will not be doing any advertisements for shoulder replacements. At 5 weeks I can get my arm only high enough to shake hands. I saw the surgeon Friday and he ordered nerve conduction tests.
I have trigger points in my deltoid muscle that can be, at unpredictible times, extremely painful. If it doesn't get better, completing my MR is going to be impossible with 1 arm.
What country did Ulrich end up in?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyWhat country did Ulrich end up in?
I emailed Ulrich and heard back. They have not yet moved, but the new house is either now planned or actually under construction. He said he is recovering slowly from his fourth heart attack.
It's good to hear from you again -- you've been missed. I hope the doctors can get to the bottom of the problem and solve it.
Nothing says Holiday like a week in the Riviera:
Riviera-Express by Edmund, on Flickr
Finally— a "spring-like" day here. 74°F partly cloudy!
Here is a train vacation that should be on everyone's bucket list!
https://www.rockymountaineer.com/
Remember to click on the 'Watch on YouTube' link at the bottom, and select 'Full Screen':
I have driven through the Canadian Rocky Mountains twice. Both trips were great, but I can't help thinking how much nicer it would be to just be able to let somebody else do all the work while we take in the scenery. No more dowdy motel/hotel rooms. No more packing and unpacking every day. No more having to search for meals. Just sit back, relax and enjoy.
So, Dave I’d be obliged if you would give them both my kindest regards for their future.
Hi Bear!
I will certainly do so.