Here's three pictures I took of 4014 in July of 2019 in Albert Lea, MN. There were more people there than I expected and they got in the way but I did as well as I could: Doug
Doug, Great photo capture with the Big Boy. I kind of gasped when I saw people on top of the rails. Big NO NO in the Railroad World. It's once again Sunday morning. I just finished eating my frozen waffles. Kind of chunky that way. Wafflescicle's Don't believe everything you hear, little of what you see and for sure what you read & see on the internet, news media or anywhere else. I think that covers it. Thanks to whomever for fixing my black bar where all the goodies are. Thank-you. Big Bear Lake is known for it's traffic congestion. Ski weekends such as they've had recently, what with the fresh snow on the hill, brings up the flatlanders to play in what else...the snow. Mornings has traffic backed up to Highland on #330 to #18 and right up to the ski resorts. #38 from Redlands to Big Bear City is the same way. Locals learn to use #18 from Baldwin Lake to Lucerne Valley as an alternative. They soon learn that getting through Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville can be a quagmire as well. Cajon pass can be bumper to bumper traffic during any time of the year. Only the railfans that get off the freeways and up to Cajon Pass and the Summit have it better, sometimes. Why do I mention this. I went out Saturday to go visit my daughter and her family. Hey dad want to come to lunch. If it involves food, I'm on the way. Traffic?? It was the first really nice day we've had and everyone must have been thinking the same thing. Hey, it's a good day let's get out and do something. Skiers with their rooftop gear. Sled's, hey people still use sled's. Of course snow boarders. All headed for the ski slopes in the mountains near by. Clear day and you could see the ridges of mountains that create this valley. Snow covered peaks from the recent stoves (still thinking steam) uhh...err, Snow. Traffic at Karcher Blvd., was backed up so we got to sit for a while. Glad I stopped at Wendy's to get a drink. Nothing like the hours waiting to get out of my own driveway and onto Big Bear Blvd., in Big Bear Country, California. Although if you really needed to get out. Most of our locals and visitors were kind enough to let you out. Big wave of thanks and I was off to the store or to meet the BVMR's at Carl's Jr. This new Wifi is working out great. No more down time for buffering or hesitations from my hot spot on the phone. Nice, real nice. It even works down in the basement. How about that? Another clear day so I can expect everyone to be out and about. However, it is quiet in the neighborhood. I can hear my neighbor playing with his toddlers. Happy sounds, never ever bother me. Got my Coffee, so we are good to go. Where in the heck do all these wires go???
One last look, at least from me of the J Series in action. If you like contrasts this video brings it all to life. Enjoy! Now to the more mundane, boring, but essential "Wireus Repairus." LOL
"I've been wiring on the railroad, all the live long day..." Another great video. They sure have the driving rods on 611 polished up, don't they. Is the silver dome car the ACL car? I hear flat spots on the wheels of some of the other cars, too. In almost every video of trains on welded rail, you notice cars with flat spot wheels. I have always wondered why they allow those cars on the mainline. It seems it would be hard on the rails. And, how do the flat spots form? Does the wheel pair skid while brakes are applied? Doug
I work for an hour or two a day on the wiring project. This will take me longer but that's okay for now. I love the driving rod's on the J. , awesome, when you see them working. Now that's the definition of Locomotion. That's a Locomotive. As near as I can tell it's the ACL, Atlantic Coast Line car which is following the dome vista. I also hear flat spots on two other streamline passenger cars in the N&W or N&S livery. Someone once said they liked the click clack sound as in similar to the noise made on the short rails. Welded rail has pretty much killed that sound. It used to be an emergency stop meant locking up the wheels and grinding them flat while coming to a stop. Don't know why these have flat spots on the wheels. Unless it's on purpose for reasons described above. Braking is different today so scratching my head as well.
I get the same sound when I have been off road in my Jeep and get a rock stuck in the tire tread and get back on pavement !
It doesn't remind me of rail joints at all. They are more of a clack,clack......clack,clack......clack,clack... as the pairs of trucks go over them. The flats are just bang, bang, bang. Doug
Doug, yes it does. Thumb, thumb, bang, bang repeating the noise time and again, Now then. What goes clip, clop -- clip, clop--bang, bang? You may not like the answer but I'll give you a chance to work on it.
Nope. I could say a lot of things. It was an Amish farmer who told me this. So don't shoot the messenger. It is an "Amish drive by shooting." Said sarcastically. I thought it was funny. Considering they aren't likely to ever do such a thing. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. I said, "Steam is King" yep, I said that. On my layout my diesels out number my Stoves. That's a fact. But i do have a number of different steamers that will take out a train, on occasion. Somewhat a mute point by now. Bachman put out a fairly good looking Santa Fe, 4-8-4 and at a price that was (originally) to good to be true. The warranty, the only locomotive with a warranty. The good to be true part. Everyone of the Bachman's locomotives literally tore themselves a part while running. Didn't matter whether is was HO or N Scale. You could send them back and they'd send you a new one but the new ones did the same thing. Drivers would literally pull apart and drop off in the dirt. I sent George, one of them and he sent it back to Bachmann. They sent him a new one and he's already told you, it sits next to the station. Okay what's my point? Besides repeating history here. We'd like an F-E-F, from Kato for Santa Fe. Like the one they put out for Union Pacific. While in Southern California, i had the pleasure of chasing and pacing #3751 with the short tender, on numerous occasions. Here's a recent You Tuber Video. Do note the#3751 is not always working as in making the pull. It's drifting along being shoved by the MetroLink motor. I want to eventually recreate this scene in miniature...someday. Not the freeway scenes, that would be nice but where does one find or have room for such things. Just the train!! Be run some steam, every now and then.
Yup.... Which really upsets THE Wife. She wanted a steamer to pull her excursion train. I have no way of figuring out the sparking issue plus the fact its not DCC pretty much relegates it to THE Railroad Park forever ! BTW Rick...thanks for sending that steamer to me. We where this >< close...LOL.
Your welcome George. I am Sorry, about that George. I had high hopes the newest ones had been fixed. If possible. Try turning the front truck around and see what happens. Probably nothing but it's worth a try. Interestingly enough the J Series they put out and I own one. It runs smooth, hasn't torn itself apart and is a puller. Appears they got it right this time. I'm not holding my breath. A purple and blue face on me, is not becoming.
Okay, all together now, like the football fans up in the bleachers do. "Kato, Kato, Kato" Give us a 4, give us an 8 and give us another 4. A Santa Fe 4-8-4!! The rhythm doesn't work out but it gets the point across.
I'm back.!! With more Santa Fe #3751, video footage. This time stopping in Barstow for servicing. You might remember our previous discussion on this very subject. During the age of the Steam this locomotive would have been taken off the train at Barstow and sent to the Roundhouse for servicing. Another one would have been brought out and tied to the front and off they'd go. Today, there's no roundhouse and servicing has to be done on the fly. I think you'll enjoy this video. Brought back a lot of memories of my second home, away from home. Barstow, California. Again, if you listen the locomotive you can tell when it's working and when it's not. Edited add on: Not sure why but this video failed to play. You might be able to find it again on You Tube. This is the second time this has happened where some one withdrew their videos. Sorry about that. It's a good video and I would think the owner would be proud of it and want it out there. Oh well. I's got to get busy on the layout. All the chores are done so nothing stands in the way. Enjoy the day.
Some motivational pictures. Here's the early roundhouse using an Atlas Turntable. I don't recommend it. It grinds and makes all kinds of noise and takes to long to when it pauses to move around the full circle. If you need to know I can explain more later. I thought you'd pick it out. Hey Rick, (hypocrite) has a B-man stove in that picture. Yep, I do. What you don't know is I gutted it out. Motor failed/burned up. I wasn't paying to send it back in...not anymore. Now then, an ABA set of Santa Fe F types shoves it around the layout. Sigh! Here is the Warbonnets that shove that steam engine. Power for the hour. Now, now, I need to get to work on the layout. Have fun!
Some J shots for you sir Rick and others. I will note these are from the early 90's with 20 plus car excursion trains and no diesel helpers. Back when NS had a first class steam program. I doubt we shall ever see the likes of that ever again.
What a beautiful girl! I never get tired of seeing her, better yet when she is under steam! I do like the restoration photos as well, but that's the tinkerer in me wanting to know how she was made and how she works.
