BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

Swanson has really let their quality drop. The Hungry Man dinners all used to be at least edible and the turkey dinner one was the last one I considered OK but now it is cr*p too.

Doug

 

For sure, for sure.
Funny you should bring this up.
It didn't go so well as I ended up sick.
In kindness to all participants here I won't describe the volcano that followed and you so aptly described.

Anyway, it's over and done. The life of a bachelor. Oh, I could have cooked off a complete turkey dinner but why. I'd only end up throwing most of it away. Not the answer I'm looking for.

Trying to stay warm. Where's that blanket and "How I Met Your Mother." They must have really milked every idea they could think of into this TV show.

 

With my current dental situation I was unable to eat fresh bird this year. I had to go with a turkey roast in a metal pan. It was good, I could chew it just fine but those things are only big enough for my little family with no leftovers. Oh well. Sorry to hear your dinner didn't go too well Rick. Better luck next time?

 

Thanks Massey and everyone else tuned in here.

I did the same thing last year and with my lack of teeth (I had them all pulled out due to diabetic decay) I was able to eat the turkey roast. This year I didn't bother. Last year, the cat's loved the left overs.

Don't forget the video slide shows of the trains and new bridges on the bottom of the previous page. Perhaps one or more still to come. I have two taken by Josta. A Union Pacific and Santa Fe Mail Train. Christmas special with added passenger cars on the rear. In the UP's case a dinner was added. Traditional Christmas goodies and eats.

Usually when you ride the mail train as happened during peak ridership, you had to bring your own snacks and meals.

Thanks for the likes and postings.

Enjoy.

 

Oh no, Rick's Story Time.

As a youngster I talked my elementary teacher into taking us on a field trip. I had checked with Southern Pacific in San Francisco to see if we could ride the mail train. Consider what a long distance call cost back then. The plan was to catch it in Salinas and ride it to Gilroy. The answer was no we couldn't do that but we could ride it to San Jose, California. Even better I remember thinking. Of course someone was going to have to drive from Salinas To San Jose to pick us up, but that wasn't my problem to solve.

I talked it up to my parents, other kids in my class and of course the teacher. Now this is where it gets interesting. What we didn't know is Passenger Service on the Southern Pacific was about to come to an end at some point in the near future. All of this taking place before Amtrak was even thought of. Passenger trains started to get bunched up. Some short runs disappeared. Mail service would be cancelled and take off on wings or in the back of trucks. For now we were in for a treat.

As it turned out they actually spotted a Standard Observation-Open Platform (Heavy Weight) at the Salinas Train Station. We would be riding the Mail Train, an odd mix of RPO's, Baggage Mail Storage Cars, Box cars (serving the same purpose) and Reefers with Fresh Perishables. Seems to me Lettuce was on as well as Strawberries. The train arrived but tied on behind it was a mixed bag of Standard passenger cars carrying soldiers. They were headed for Fort Ord. i thought we were noisy. Not a chance.

They dropped them off at Castroville and a locomotive met them to take them down the branch line to Monterey, Ca. We continued on to Watsonville, on into Gilroy and after waiting for a high priority perishable headed EB or SB as we might look at it. Waiting in a siding for it to pass by us we ended up in San Jose. You can believe this part or not N/C !!

While in San Jose SP had a train you could walk through. It included a working RPO car and the guys were kind enough to talk to us kids and show us how things worked. They could throw those letters/envelopes and have them land perfectly in the box shelves, at first throw. never mind how they slung the small packages. We weren't the only kids on a field trip. Turns out this was quite the attraction.

I have forgotten about a lot of things from my childhood. This isn't one of them. The conductor, was a hardened railroad employee. The kind you'd expect. However, he kept us entertained and pointed out some interesting sights and industries along the route. He even had snacks and drinks for us. Who said railroad people are rude?

No pictures. Not a parent one captured a picture of us. What? What? What were they thinking?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

Yeah, great story. There is something about railroads that makes a person remember events associated with them. I still remember when my dad made the effort, in 1960 or 1961, to buy tickets for him, two of my brothers, and me to ride the Rock Island from Albert Lea, MN up to the Twin Cities just so we could experience a train ride before they discontinued the train.

The Milwaukee Road and CGW had already discontinued their passenger trains in Austin.

I also clearly remember seeing the Baby Trainmasters with the big fans at an angle up front on the Milwaukee out in the country. Now, why would a kid remember that?

Doug

 

Imagine those Trainmasters on the front end of a Union Pacific passenger train. Moving across the desert headed for Barstow, Ca., An amazing site. Ugly enough to attract the eye of this youngster. Like you it was all about what became a love for trains. Hey dad what's that ugly engine doing on the front of a passenger train?

Took me a bit to find this: I managed to recapture it, well sort of in this next picture.

Made possible by a good friend, I haven't heard from in months.

Why are we attracted to such ugly beasts running down the rails with the ugliest and dirtiest of car loads. Trains that looked like they weathered by a model railroader on steroids. Trains that go forever from one horizon to the other. Okay it feels that way to most non-railfans waiting for the train to clear the crossing. For me, all of a sudden I'm in seventh heaven. Where's the nearest high spot?

We remember it because of the impression it made on our childish minds of that time. That's why.

 

Yeah, "Oh darn, now I have to stop for that TRAIN (and it's a half mile away and the crossing gates haven't lowered yet. Heck, the lights haven't even begun to flash).



Doug

 

Right on Doug and Hemi. Right on.

I oop'sd and just now found it.

Should read, Like they are weathered...
Can you go wrong with weathering. I don't think so but then your models look like they are rotting away into oblivion. And the real 1:1 foot scale, doesn't?

Talking about the "Baby Trainmaster", here is a video of one working a branch line. Similar to what I used to see in San Francisco and San Jose pulling SP's commute trains. Talk about ugly ducklings but awesome pullers.



Busy day ahead.

 

That's good stuff guys but you need to step it up. When I was hard core railfanning back in the late 80's, a buddy and I took a set of traffic cones and created our own lane closure to have a spot to shoot the 611 from a highway bridge that had no sidewalk.

 

611 and the J Class is my all time favorite locomotive! She is just sexy all the way around! Streamlined but not so much that it hides the interesting bits, sleek and black. Of all the steam engines out there this one just looks powerful and classy, where the Big Boy's and Challengers look strong and industrial.

 

You don't mean these girls do you? Replicated of course.

 

The video of the Baby Trainmaster is wonderful! She looks gorgeous and sounds terrific. I wish they would have really revved her up, though.

Doug

 

My regret here is when I was going to college near Nashville that I never made the trip up north of town to Gallatin steam plant to see this classic girl at work. My dad worked for TVA and saw her several times but never once took a picture.

Those are some beauties Sir Rick!

 

This captures my memories of the "Baby Trainmaster's". Here's the video I was looking for. I have this at home and watch it often. Dad what's up with those ugly engines??! They are stronger and quicker in the commute service, son.



Have a good weekend.

 

I don't know for sure. What comes to mind is in the background, that's the Townsend Street, SP Train station. Presuming it's the Townsend Street Yard Tower.

Someone else may have a better idea and or more knowledge on the subject.

I did some checking. The train stations was known as:
Third and Townsend Depot or Townsend Station

 

Neat! Some GP's and SD's in there too.

Doug