New garden layout

 Wait, so I should not send large amounts of money to some place......

me too. Hope you're back soon.

Davy:  Send an e-mail to Rich at webmaster@ogaugerr.com.

A while back, an American cop buddy of mine went to a seminar, that delved into things that set people off... ****ed them off.

For westerners, including us North Americans, "time", was a big thing. Especially, anything that  negatively interfered/affected with our precious, available free time.

This kind of **** fits into that category.

I'm concerned that the money scam would only be part of the problem. Maybe, even a diversion for another hidden intruder...

A while back, I had an old friend refuse my emails. He said my system had been compromised/corrupted...

I had a number of guys(in-the-know re: computers) check my emails and they said, my emails were clean. I even had Rich Melvin verify that my emails didn't set off any alarms...

My old friend still refuses to open my emails, so I don't send him any, anymore. He wanted to go through a ridiculous, laborious process... to put his concerns to rest. He's either paranoid or he knows something I and others haven't been able to detect.

I did use a high powered solution, that is risky(should only be used as a last resort, because it can remove needed programs...).

Either way, I never fully trust these things...computers.

Rick

Hi Guys,well just sussed out how to change my email address here so I'm back in business.  If any of you guys  still get emails from my old address discard it immediately because it isn't from me. One upside of all this is that whatever the hackers have done they've left me with an email back log of sent items from way back .Old emails I sent long ago with old garden photos attached from way back showing my G scale layout I had forgotten all about. So I'll post some to let you see how the garden was at different times. As for the current garden work,well the weather isn't playing ball so nothing doing right now down to rain. As you will see in some of the pictures ,I used to have masses of flowers in my garden,but weather patterns have changed the last few years and we tend to get better weather earlier in the year these days than the actual summer months.Filling those flowerboxes was expensive and the last couple of times I did them heavy rain in the "summer" months ruined the plants and  according to the scientists that is the kinda weather patterns we can expect here for years to come so I ain't spendin money on flowers to have them ruined every year.Its a shame though because it was really pleasant and colourfull. So between that,and not being able to get the 1/29th scale locomotives and rolling stock I had hoped for from the G scale manufacturers made my mind up to go to O scale and re-do the place. 1st picture is my pal's kid Christopher sittin by the pond as it was then,still some boulders lying at the pond edge . The trains ran lower down behind the flowerboxing , 3 paralell tracks and one raised line .I had 4 circuits in total at one time ,then reduced it to double track running . Second picture was my foray into modern American trains but (no offence guys) I find modern US outline as boring as the modern UK scene, it never captured my imagination.I'm afraid I'm stuck in the 50s and 60s in the UK scene and the 50s US and I'll never change.3rd picture is more me  B&O P7 heading B&O Fas and heavyweights.... steam and early diesels which to my eye look more pleasing than the modern boxes on wheels pulling boxes on wheels kinda thing... these pics were taken before I rehashed things and made the wee stream coming from the RH corner.I also used to have a wee walk bridge over the tracks which the trains ran under . Anyway, thats it for now. (PS Pond still green at that point but I was told to let it be and I did and it did sort itself out over time).         

Davy:  I edited your reference to your new e-mail address out of the above post.  For your future protection, I suggest you list it in your public profile instead of in a thread.  That way it will only be accessible to forum members.

Hi Allan thats cool, thanks  DAVY

"... whatever the hackers have done..."  Davy, did you have your computer checked, by someone qualified/that you trust, for harmful buried software etc... i.e. Trojans?

Do you have a security program, installed? DO NOT POST WHAT IT IS...

Just changing your email address isn't going to help much, if your computer has been compromised.

BTW, the reason I can't post pictures is because my computer security won't allow it. It views the breach, required, in the firewall, to be able to load pictures, as a threat. An access point, for harmful software etc...

Rick

Hi Rick, no my computer is secure and clean. I have malware bytes and AVG running.It was my own fault .The hackers caught me in an an off-guard moment. Davy

A few years ago, I watched a disturbing TV program, re: computer safety/security.

At the time, some senior officials were acknowledging that some of the country's most important, secure computer programs etc. were being compromised and corrupted.

That the level of technology used... was so advanced, it could not be detected, by the current computer security measures, in-place. 

Basically, the bad guys got the jump on the good guys computers...; and the good guys... were left defenseless.

Re: real threats, our store bought security programs, at best, probably, just give us a  false peace-of-mind.

Rick

Hey Davy,

Allan edited out your email address before I had a chance to write it down.  I'll have to wait for you to send me an email from your new address before I can send you the most recent one I sent to you that apparently went to the hackers.

Craig

Hi Guys,  Craig,my pal John Grier in Colorado is going to email you with my new email address. I can only remember the first part of yours??. Chuck and Joe and anybody else who wants to email me to re-establsih contact ,email me here david@caferoyale.biz. I will leave this email address posted for now and remove it later once you've had a chance to get in touch. I'll then send you my new regular address. You don't need to edit  this email address out for now  Alan. It isn't my main address and will be defunct soon.I'll leave it up for now and remove it tomorrow.

 Your garden looks good Chuck,some nice big boulders there eh ! Lovely stuff ! 

 Tried out my two MTH steamers for the first time today, CNJ P47 and Pennsy USRA Mike. Sound and smoke etc., superb sound and smoke units,and that was just with DC. WOW, fantastic !     Can't wait to get them out on the garden lines. Anyway guys I have a gig in Finland on saturday night. Scots/Finnish wedding in Helsinki. been to Norway,Sweden and Denmark before but never Finland yet... should be interesting. Fly out Friday,gig on saturday home on Sunday... Cheers  DAVY 

For any of you wondering - "was so advanced, it could not be detected"

... then how did they find out?

Sometimes, the best work both sides. Sometimes, sides are changed...

Davy,

Let er rip in Finland!

BTW, lad, and I think your already sensed it... I'll not be doing any more emails...

Nothing against you, me son, just not into this kind of **** ****. I gave you some private correspondence, and now it's...

One more BTW, Lad, did you know I come from a law enforcement background?

Rick

Steam Shovels -

Besides looking cool, I've always thought steam shovels, visually, projected "the old industrial look".

You can get an idea of what I'm on about, by googling - "steam shovel registry".

Lad that, rock farm, layout of yours would look tres bon with a few creaking, rattletrap old steam shovels... working away. Contraptions like the old steam shovels... really help to, visually, define an era.

Rick

Toy Trucker and Contractor originally, in 2009, offered an all-metal 1/48th scale Bucyrus Steam Shovel(this shovel is a rail version).

Looks like a well-detailed, model.

item: 021-08001

BTW, it would be nice to have some operational O scale: rechargeable, remote control... models available.

Rick

Hi Guys,

          Nothing much doing the last few days construction-wise and I'm off to gig in Finland over the weekend.Anyway my next foray into O gauge 2 rail is continental european stuff. Craig mentioning he had an orient express train in O got me looking to see what was available in that outline. Anyway,upshot is I've treated myself to a French diesel and an Italian Electric loco. (So much for me the steam nut !)  I bought them out of curiosity as much as anything else but now I've had hands on and I really like them.Both old models by Lima of Italy.Run well. So, thats me collecting 3 outlines now.  US ,British,and European..... I'm even tempted to put in overhead catenary for the electrics. However if I go down that road then I'll need a couple of  Newhaven or Pennsy electrics .Like the GG1s. Anyway guys pics attached.... enjoy.

Hey, a turtle in Scotland. The E444 nicknamed turtle was one of the most famous Italian loco during '70 and '80. Have been restructured, but they are still running (but they lose the logo...). It should be much faster then the other steam engines.

:-)

I'm liking the Continental Europe motive power!

You have created a mighty fine railroad for yourself there....

Hi Guys, well between bad weather and work commitments progress on the railway has been very slow however I finally got the stone patio finished right into the back left hand corner of the garden. Pics attached. I also managed to obtain a very good second hand British Railways Britannia class "70045 Lord Rowallan". In economy unlined green livery as the prototype was in her final years. British O is built to 1/43 scale whereas US O scale is built to 1/48.  Anyway pics attached. Sun's out and hot today ,thank goodness ,a bit of summer at last !      DAVY

Nice locomotive, Davy. Who made it?

hi John, Aye I was pleased to get this loco. O gauge Britannias don't come up for sale all that often . This one is needing a wee bit attention to the valve gear on one side but a pal of mine will put that right no probs. Its made from an "Acorn" kit. Don't know who actually put it together. One of these professionally built and ready-to-run new can set you back £1800 (aye and thats UK sterling not US dollars). Anyway saw it for sale and nabbed it for a lot less than that. But I won't say how much incase the wife walks past and sees what I paid for it ! ha ha . The Britannias were normally British Railways Brunswick Green lined out in orange and black but many of them got what they called "economy" paint jobs in  their last years.ie, plain green no lining.  Their brass nameplates were also removed at the end because of collectors stealing them.   This model as per the real thing has the name painted in on the smoke deflectors in white. This would be how this loco would look about 1966/67. The coach behind it is in the BR blue and grey colourscheme which started to come in just around the same time as steam was on its last legs.   DAVY

Hi Davy

Here in North Carolina we have had nightly rain for weeks and temperatures in the 90's during the day so I can empathize on your halts. Due to this not much has gotten done on my outdoor road. No running..just too humid, with the emphasis on humid.  Steaming up the Ruby would be masochistic.On the other hand everything is a deep green, but nowhere as green as Scotland.

One thing I have to compliment you on is how you integrated the backyard as a "viewing platform"for the railroad as well as managing it to serve more than one purpose and it happens to look integrated , not catch as catch can.

I like the all business, brutish look of the Britannia..no fancy sheet metal, bronze, etc..looks nearly American, LOL. It would be terrific to see it dig in on the rails some day.

Til later

Bruce

Hi Bruce, the weather has been a real ***** the last few weeks. Now Scotland has always been used to rain but believe it or not we used to get summers so hot when I was a kid that the tarmac used to melt on the pavements(sidewalks) and roads. These days the weather is all over the place.But it seems to be all upside down the world over these days. Anyway just need to live with it eh?

 As for the Britannia, aye when these were built in the 1950s many features of contemporary American and German practice were incorporated into their design. So their partial American look isn't by accident. British engines were famous for their clean uncluttered lines and generally didn't sport the same clutter of pipes and sandboxes etc.,etc., that continental-european and American engines did but the downside was much increased maintenance costs due to innaccessible working parts.

 The British Railways standard steam fleet was generally far more akin to modern US and German ,though still managed to look a bit tidier. This was partly of necessity too due to the 13ft British  loading gauge.    DAVY

Davy, Nice looking trains.

Aye, not sure which is your favorite, me son, the trains or working with the rocks n all?

Nice job finishing off the bandstand.

Is fall in your part of the world warm enough for you to work outdoors... on your layout? As long as the rains stay away.

BTW, nice new mules.

Cheers lad,

Rick

Hi Rick, not much more rock work to go now. Just have the bridging over the stream and re-hash the right hand side of the garden to do. My wife finally got her wee new garden table and chairs into the wee (now tidied up) patio next to the pond. I have to re-do that pond edge and get some plants incorporated along there. And as you can see the grand-kids play things have started to invade too. I also got some more track timbers laid in cement along the front run. pics attached. Also attached another picture of the Britannia loco. I love that machine !!  The Britannia [pacifics  are my all time favourite British engines and the B&O P7c pacificss my favourite American engine. Anyway,1.30am here just about to leave to catch the 6am ferry from Oban to the island of Tiree in the western isles where I'm playing tonight. So I better skedaddle. catch you later   DAVY

A nice little nook, for a wee bit of lunch or perhaps a Guinness, you've got there. Plants should compliment your stone work, quite nicely.

It's pretty good isn't it... getting a favorite. Handsome looking chunk of British steam, lad. Quite the weapon.

Sounds kind of exotic... heading off to the "island of Tiree"

Seems like things are going pretty good.

Cheers lad,

Rick

Hi Rick,  Just back from the gig on Tiree Friday night and another one in Perth last night.Weather was great and the ferry trips to and from Tiree were terrific scenery wise. So a good weekend was had. Beuatifull here today again so I;m just away out to enjoy it !  Here's Tiree.... http://www.tireeimages.com/tiree.html    Cheers   DAVY

Hi Lad,

Quite the Island. Seems almost desolate, but in a good way. Lots of natural beauty, and some decent waves. Even some hardcore surfers. Wetsuits are probably mandatory. That water must be cold?

Another fine Scottish jewel, Davy.

Have they ever held a music/rock festival there? What a setting.

Cheers,

Rick

Davy, just spent the last two and a half hours reading all nine pages of your posts. I've never had such a good time reading and learning from the Forum. I'm an indoor railroader but am building a pond. Just wanted to say thanks and keep writing. Please do a article in OGR soon. I know Allan will rightfully bug you tell you do. Thanks again it's been an enjoyable evening. Don McCuaig  

A Scotsman from a far away island.

Hi Guys, Rick, well when you see the Hebrides in the fine  weather it was at the weekend its just absolutely amazing. I've travelled far and wide in my life and I'd I've seen some amazing and beautifull scenery but the north western seaboard of Scotland has a qaulity all of its own. Truly a wee bit of heaven on earth. Doug,glad you're enjoying the thread. If you need any help wi the pond building just ask. The one thing folk usually get wrong when doing ponds for the first time is getting  the edging wrong. So watch out for that. You can do a beautifull job of everything else but if theres 6 inches of plastic liner showing when its finished above the water line it just defeats any natural look. So rule of thumb .... you don't want liner showing at all when the jobs finished.(Just my humble tuppence worth). Anyway, catch you later guys.    DAVY  

Hi again Don, a Scotsman from a far away island ? , where ?      DAVY

Maui, where we still have working narrow gauge steam. 

Lad,

For some reason, after reading your last post, to me, I thought of fall(the season). A fine season, that one. One of my favorites. I like that time of year, including - sunny fall days with it's cooler, clean(clear) air, the smell of the air(there's a different feel to it) and definitely, the great fall colors.

Is there such a remarkable season, in the land of the Scots?

Later me son,

Rick

Hi Guys, Don, I didn't know there was preserved steam in the Hawaiian islands. I've seen steam working on the US navy bases there on old WW2 footage but I thought that was long gone. Those look like narrow gauge Baldwin engines ? Very much like preserved Baldwins in Brazil where theres quite a few preserved these days.

 How extensive is the steam working in Maui ? 

Rick, aye,Tiree is quite a place for surfers apparently,and aye the water IS cold. Looks Carribean ,feels Baltic ! ha ha .Its OK in the shallows in hot weather....so I'm told ! As for tree colours in the fall ,aye we have colourfull autumns here too but different from America. My favourite place in autumn is up around Ballater/Balmoral/Grampians. The birch trees turn gold/yellow and contrast with the green of the Scots pine. Quite a sight. Anyway, not been doing much on the garden layout the last few days for one reason and another ,however just took delivery of a Rivarrossi German (Deustche Bundesbahn) diesel.(pic attached) I'm building up 3 O gauge collections ,ie.,  US, UK,and European continental outlines. Variety is the spice of life as they say so I don't intend to be bored !  ha ha     DAVY

Nice new piece for your European spice rack, lad. Looks good.

I've recently cancelled my train orders. I'm looking to move. I've already got a mind numbing amount of trains to pack up. I hate thinking about that chore. I'd like to find a place that could accommodate my trains, but, in reality, that might not be in the cards. I might have to sell everything or at least... most of it.

I might try to auction off the whole works, or just leave all it behind. Free for the taking...

You hope for the best in life and try to put yourself in a decent position, but sometimes **** still happens.

I'm currently living in a detached home, that we own, and unless I move further out... from the high priced areas, like the area I currently live in, it looks like some type of condominium or townhouse is in my future. Not something I look forward to.

I like my privacy, don't like noise coming through walls/ceiling(from neighbors); and boards of any sort, i.e. strata councils and monthly maintenance fees.

A lot to figure out, here.

Rick

Hi Davy, we have two narrow gauge steam engines running here in Maui. They are sister engines both built for a mining operation. They worked together all their lives and still are.   They also have a Plymouth diesel as a back up engine. They run along the coast for six miles. Four runs a day. I can hear them from our house. Love the sound. This is a little video of the run.  http://youtu.be/I0tHWkpN26U

I'll start working on the pond again next week, might have a question or two. Thanks Don 

Hi Doug, nice that theses engines survive in daily service.  Nothing like the sound of steam trains to cheer a body up eh ?

Well yesterday I made a start to the final trackbed phase of the garden railway. ie., the right hand side of the garden. Cut down the old mini-alberta spruce trees as they were gettin too big . Also lifted the last of the G scale track. My only problem is I've still not made my mind up what track plan to go for down that side.  Don't know whether to go for a simple rural look or go for a medium sized station layout. Continental and US stations generally have rail level platforms so by using removable platform buildings a Euro-appearance could easily be changed to a US-appearance by simply swapping over. UK ouline is a different kettle of fish because over here our platforms are running board height. Anyway,we'll see what transpires. I've attached some pics of the area in question as it was yesterday when I was just making a start to stripping it back . Nothing doing today down to rain.    DAVY   

Hi Guys, well not gettin much done with the railway down to the weather not playin ball. Anyway, I found this absolutely fascinating article on the hill billy's of Appalachia.

I knew much of this but not in such detail. Really interesting to me because these people came indirectly from Scotland via Ulster .Its a long video so I'd advise sittin down with a beer or a coffee and relax. Great history including a big chunk on the Clinchfield railroad. Brilliant. Some of you may have seen it before but if not you'll learn a lot from this.  Enjoy   DAVY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PJ7qqnkVaI 

Hi Guys ,well after some absolutely abysmal wet weather I finally got a dry day ,nothing very exciting to show except the beginnings of the track base at the front right hand corner being cemented.The old G scale track bed can be seen lower right in the picture bed.This will be lost under a step.  Usual rubble and cement method for the track base .Rain again tomorrow forecast !! ,oh well ,c'est la vie eh ? Can see it being next year before I get right the way round at this rate !! hey Rick....you out there ? Hope you're keeping OK       Cheers   DAVY