a picture a day....

Pat, great scene.  I didn’t know you have a Butler Junction.  There is lots of interchange traffic here in Butler, Pennsylvania

7-story version with brick and windows on both sides.

Thanks so much Mark and Curt!  

FOR TODAY:  It's 1954 and MOW crew Claude Hopper, Spence Simmons, Smokey Joe Scaruba, and Bugs Bower prepare Big Hooker for a day of heavy lifting.  These fellas are dedicated B&O boys for sure!  Heck, ol foreman Claude, in white hard hat,  has been with the B&O going on 37 years now .... never missed a day of work.  Bugs hired on with the B&O 33 years ago and has been the operator of Big Hooker for the last 9 years.  Ol Smokey Joe also hired on with the B&O 33 years ago..... got his nickname by driving a sledge hammer so fast that his co workers claimed they could see smoke coming from the hammer ... LOL!   Then there's Spence Simmons who worked for the Western Maryland MOW Dept for 8 years before hiring on with the B&O some 22 years ago.   Last night at the bar this quartet of guys were having a friendly one upsmanship competition with some Pennsy MOW fellas. About 4 beers in,  Ol Smokey Joe declared that " Blue blood of the B&O kind was the best blood any respectable MOW man could have running through his veins!"   The guys all know that Ol Smokey Joe gets rather animated right around beer number 4.  

Another great story. You have me spoiled, Patrick. I am expecting and looking forward to your stories each day. Curt

@trumpettrain posted:

FOR TODAY:  It's 1954 and MOW crew Claude Hopper, Spence Simmons, Smokey Joe Scaruba, and Bugs Bower prepare Big Hooker for a day of heavy lifting.  These fellas are dedicated B&O boys for sure!  Heck, ol foreman Claude, in white hard hat,  has been with the B&O going on 37 years now .... never missed a day of work.  Bugs hired on with the B&O 33 years ago and has been the operator of Big Hooker for the last 9 years.  Ol Smokey Joe also hired on with the B&O 33 years ago..... got his nickname by driving a sledge hammer so fast that his co workers claimed they could see smoke coming from the hammer ... LOL!   Then there's Spence Simmons who worked for the Western Maryland MOW Dept for 8 years before hiring on with the B&O some 22 years ago.   Last night at the bar this quartet of guys were having a friendly one upsmanship competition with some Pennsy MOW fellas. About 4 beers in,  Ol Smokey Joe declared that " Blue blood of the B&O kind was the best blood any respectable MOW man could have running through his veins!"   The guys all know that Ol Smokey Joe gets rather animated right around beer number 4.  

1954 Pat was a very good year'... I was two...  This is a great story Pat'... we need some more pics of the this seasoned crew working the mow'...for the B&O'....🤩😉👍'..  I'm off the circuit for a while, but I check in to see and read your stories and scenarios'.... as they always give me a smile and take me back to better days;...⭐

Hi guys, its been awhile. What great photos everyone is posting and some wonderful videos also!

Lee, everyone is correct that your videos are just amazing and that it is the closet to real life as it gets!

Larry dont worry I liked your video as well as its mostly the time frame I am trying to model!

Patrick, what great stories! after the last one I wanted to go work for the B&O MOW crew. I just dont thing I could

live up to there standards!

I seen something the other day driving threw Auburn Wa. BNSF Rail yard on Hwy18. I seen a BNSF/Norfolk Southern/BNSF  all hooked up waiting for the all clear! I didnt know Norfolk and BNSF got together! LOL

I have nothing for you guys as I am in the middle of my redo and getting ready for a road trip. I hope you all keep the great photos coming and I will try to check in more often! LOL

Happy 4th everyone!

Ted, Curt, and Mike g. - thanks for your kind words!!   Here are a couple more pics of the MOW crew as per Ted's request.

Patrick - one of these days I may compile all your stories and photos to see if there is enough material for an ebook.  I have a buddy who writes and self-publishes books centered around the Masons. Some historical - some fictional.  If you are not interested in publishing yourself you can always license your material and get a cut of any proceeds. Just a thought.

https://ogrforum.com/...16#72805549267035016

Patrick's first photo and story on this thread!

How about a little Lionel prewar.....

Great looking layout. I love your river. That pre-war Lionel set is a piece of history.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Patrick - one of these days I may compile all your stories and photos to see if there is enough material for an ebook.  I have a buddy who writes and self-publishes books centered around the Masons. Some historical - some fictional.  If you are not interested in publishing yourself you can always license your material and get a cut of any proceeds. Just a thought.

ScoutingDad - thanks so much for your support and inspiration!  I will look into the e book idea. Thanks for that idea.   I have a basketball coach friend who published an e book last summer and he told me it was a relatively easy process.  

@mike g. posted:

https://ogrforum.com/...16#72805549267035016

Patrick's first photo and story on this thread!

Wow Mikeg!!  You had to do some digging to get this one LOL!  Thanks for the memory!

First time in 8-stories.

FOR TODAY: The yard is backed up today so hogger Keeter Samples and conductor Punkeye Taggert, are chewing the fat as it will be a good while before their next move.  Now ol Keeter can do some non stop talkin  especially when it comes to his favorite subjects, playing croquet , pickin on the banjo,  and railroading.  Right here he's a tellin Punckeye about the fist time he ever laid eyes on number 94.  ....  Lets here what he has to say .... " I'll tell ya Punkeye, the first time I saw this locomotive she was brand spankin new ... just having arrived on the property from the factory!  I came to work dat  mornin  and the Road Foreman of Engines, ol Fester Cletus ... you remember ol Fester don't ya? ..  may he rest in piece, was standin out there on the ready track right next to brand new number 94.  Now, ol Fester,  he was ah smiling something big!  You know how he did ... that big ol smile he had ... he could light up a dark room with that smile.  Well there he was just a smiling and almost doin a little dance as he beckoned me over with one hand to new number 94.  I could tell he was extremely excited!  I quickly walked over to where ol Fester was a standin!  He looked me right in the eye and with that smile beaming brighter  than a locomotive headlight, ol Fester said 'Keeter she's all yours!!  Take good care of her.  I'm expecting 94 will out live me, so I'm a counting on ya Keeter. "  Well by gol, I couldn't believe my ears!  This engine was mine to look after because the Road Foreman of Engines said so.  At that moment I commenced to feelin a bit giddy due to all the happiness running through my viens! "

In Keeter's minds eye he can vividly see ol Fester standing beside new 94 on that very day she arrived on the property.  Ol Fester was happy and proud!

Here, beside Old Number 94 Keeter and Punkeye continue talkin.  Well, Keeter is actually doing the talkin.  It's about this time that Punkeye realizes that Keeter is really talking fast and faster.  The tempo of  Keeter's words is faster than when the town symphony orchestra plays 'Flight of the Bumblebee'.  Suddenly Punkeye puts up his hand giving Keeter the stop signal and says " Keeter! Keeter slow down!  I don't hear that fast."  Keeter suddenly stops his flow of words, pauses for a few seconds and takes a big breath.  He shakes his head from side to side and says to Punkeye " Sorry partner, it must be all that coffee I drank over at Twilla's Lunch & Breakfast Room this morning ... I had 4 cups!!"  Upon hearing this Punkeye breaks out into a big belly laugh ... " 4 cups!!  Dag!!"  

As Keeter went about the rest of the day he just couldn't stop thinking about when Old 94 was New 94.  In his mind's eye he could still see ol Fester Cletus, all proud and happy,  standing beside brand spanking new number 94.   Smiling with great fondness, Keeter remembered the first time he took the throttle and backed new 94 to the tank.  After all these years of being at the throttle of 94 , from new to old, Keeter realized how blessed he's been.  And that's how it was back in the day.  

For Today July 4, 2021:  " Patsburg VFD ... on their way to the 4th of July parade."

Took this from my back yard:

Trumptrain, you’ve posted many pictures of the day, all awesome, the stories so interesting, your wit and wisdom is very good reading, thanks for your posts on this fun to view thread. Today a little CSX and Texas Special… Happy Railroading Everyone

That made my day, thank you Larry.

Patrick, what wonderful photos and man what a great story! I just look forward to seeing whats next in Patsburg!

Lee, nice view from the back yard! Seen some cool trains on the way to ND but cant take photos and drive at the same time.

Larry, what a wonderul layout and I am always amazed with your engine lineup!

Larry, great photographs and video once again!

Lee, excellent back yard view

Patrick, neat story to go with the photographs!

Hey p51, isn’t it great living by a railroad track? Most people would hate the noise, but not us. I live on the north side of US Hwy. 160. The Rio Grande tracks run parallel to the highway on the south side. There is a restoration shop at the Alamosa hub 5 miles east of us, so there is always a lot of old stuff going by they are working on besides the regular train traffic. 1) out in front of our house. 2) picked up the consist in Alamosa. 3) headed north on the San Luis Central line. 4) Alamosa restoration shop. 5) passenger cars waiting to be restored. I know that is more than one picture a day, but I missed a few days.

@Curt Henion posted:

Hey p51, isn’t it great living by a railroad track?

I got nothing on you, Curt!

Were about a third of a mile away, so it's not too loud here.

@leapinlarry posted:

Trumptrain, you’ve posted many pictures of the day, all awesome, the stories so interesting, your wit and wisdom is very good reading, thanks for your posts on this fun to view thread. Today a little CSX and Texas Special… Happy Railroading Everyone

Great photos and video Larry!!!  Your layout looks terrific!!!

Thank you very much Trumptrain, Patrick and others for compliments on my layout, the many folks that helped me is appreciated very much to. This forum is a fun to view forum for lots of reasons, ideas, friendships although long distance, a really great learning experience that’s fun, almost free, and most of all lots of fun, almost better than Saturday Night at the Movies. Now, I’ll tell you a tale, while running trains last Thursday at my home, my Ford S2 diesel switcher was in a terrible accident, my friends First Run Big Boy side swiped it, only hurting my little switcher, tearing up the hand railing, no damage at all to the powerful Big Boy. Do to a great friend, Rich Hane, CEO of the Madisonville Shops, it’s been restored for duty. Again, we are so blessed to have friends in the hobby, praise the Lord. Happy Railroading Everyone

FOR TODAY:  A nice day to be on the water.

Hector Finny and Myrtle McDonald in their canoe as Elsa Mae Cratchet stands on the beach.  The temperature is 93 degrees but somehow just being on and near the water makes the heat tolerable.

Baxter Loggins and Thelma Jean Tillis casually paddle their canoe.  They've been dating going on 2 years now.   Baxter 's eyes are busy searching for a secluded cove to provide a perfect setting.  Once he maneuvers the canoe to that special place, he plans  to "pop the question" to unsuspecting Thelma.    An engagement ring is in a zip lock bag, carefully tucked away in his pocket.    In the background Tubby Mumford sits in his inner tube wearing a wide smile on his face  thoroughly entertaining  himself as he creates his own jacuzzi ... made possible by all the beans, cabbage, and beer he consumed at the picnic earlier today.  

Mark, Larry, and MikeG - thanks so much for your kind words regarding my July 2 post!!

Larry - glad you got your RS repaired, although I must admit the bent handrail lent a bit of character ... as if the RS had been with the railroad for many years.  

Priceless, Patrick.

Hey Larry, don’t those cantalever fronts on the Big Boys require about 3” of clearance. I would have to completely redo my layout for one. A Big Boy is on my wish list, but it may be just for display or the straightaway. Curt

Curt and p51. I'm jealous  of you guys living so close to so much action. I love all you guys  post

Trumptrain  the canoe scenes on the river are super. As you know I'm working on a river scene now and you're water affects are super. They must have been an idea from Randy. You guys do such great work. You're stories are really fun . Thanks. Farmerjohn

Patrick your stories here and in other threads continue the tradition you started with Team Track Tuesday.  You truly have a gift for story telling, both verbal and with the scenes you continually creat.

FOR TODAY:  The yard at night.  

@coach joe posted:

Patrick your stories here and in other threads continue the tradition you started with Team Track Tuesday.  You truly have a gift for story telling, both verbal and with the scenes you continually creat.

Coach Joe - Your words are very kind.  Thank you so much!

They got the heavyweights out today. I don’t know whether they are leasing or purchased these two PRLX locomotives. The combining season is coming up shortly, so they are bringing in a lot of empty grain cars right now. Most of the barley for Coors Beer is grown in our valley. These two monsters shake the house. It is so cool. Curtsorry, was on my iphone, so I couldn’t download a video on here. Too bad, because the sound is unreal.

17 car consist.

@trumpettrain posted:

FOR TODAY:  The yard at night.  

Must be a full moon tonight.

FOR TODAY:   After realigning the switch,  brakeman Tinker Dawson has just hopped aboard the caboose as the way freight begins to creep forward.  Next stop is Badger Summit and that won't be for a good while yet.  Tinker is looking forward to slugging down some ice cold tea  while munching on a ham sandwich the Mrs. made for him early this morning.  It's a really hot hazy day out there for sure!  The themometer is showing 94 degrees and it's only 11:30 a.m.  The humidity is off the charts!  Word has it the temperature might break 100 degrees by 3 p.m.  By that time Tinker and the boys on the crew will be gathered at Crackerjacks Pub where there's air conditioning and plenty of ice cold brews.  Just another day on the railroad.

A pic from the old "Contrail" days, as train passes by the abandoned Worcester station...it's since been beautifully restored.   The picture was taken by my late brother...