Weekend Photo Fun 9-17-21-??

I'll post some photos tonight but for now here's a video I shot last night.  Sorry for it's length, the edit room wasn't available to piece together the 4 hour version I had in mind.  LOL!

I might have posted this one before but I like the shot...

Thanks Scott for getting us rolling each week!   Photos of the fun kind for this weekend!  

Here sits Gabby Lutz on the front steps of his cabin.  Now ol Gabby has been ah livin in these parts most of his life except for when he was drafted into the military for a couple years.   He really likes down home rural living for it suits him well!  Heck he was born about a stone's throw away from this cabin. Yep. that's right.  Ol Gabby was born on the farm just down yonder across that creek and up that cow path.  You can't see it from here because all the bushes are growed up, which kinda blocks the view.  

Now don't be ascarred or anything like that.  Ain't nottin to fear.  Those two bears, who Gabby has named Ruttin and Tuttin, come to visit Gabby every morning.  They been makin this mornin visit for many years too!  As soon as Gabby comes out his cabin door in the morning, he calls out " good mornin Ruttin and Tuttin!" and bingo they appear right out of the brush.   Gabby is at one with nature and always has been.  Heck, an eagle landed on Gabby's shoulder the other day and squirrels gather at his feet just to hear him sing em a song.    Gabby knows not to feed Ruttin and Tuttin because they will find some good bear food all by themselves.  Ruttin and Tuttin and Gabby seem to enjoy one another's company ... from a distance of course ... lol!   I don't know what it is about Ol Gabby, he just seems to have this special vibe with animals and the animals just pick up on it.  

From Gabby's front porch he has this view of boaters on the lake underneath the railroad bridge.  That's Ruttin, on the right, rummaging around for food.

Also from the front porch Gabby has a clear shot view of the railroad.  He's always been fascinated with trains and just loves to watch em roll by.  He see's them both a comin .....

and a goin!

Also from the front porch Gabby can see Dink Jenkin's farm and all the goins on there.  Every Saturday night, sometimes Sunday afternoons too, Dink and his wife Twillia come over to Gabby's.  They all sit on the front porch, drink some hootch, and play music.  Dink on the banjo, Gabby on the jug, and Twilla both a stummin on the washboard and singin up a storm.  Emm Emm that's quite a something to hear!    Now Ol Dink is quite a character himself and that is a story for another day.  

The terrain on my 12’-by-8’ model railroad does not resemble Long Island but, nonetheless, as a native who was raised and began my career there, I have some nice LIRR equipment that I run once in a while to remind myself of my early days and train travel on Long Island. I believe that LIRR 2-8-0 #111 was the last such steam engine to run on the railroad. And the MTH wood-sided passenger cars are exquisite.

MELGAR

Some shots from last weekend's trip to Lititz and Strasburg.

Just got this beast.

Cleaning the engines at the diesel servicing facility in Altoona:

A custom run PC GP-30 crossing a private railroad crossing...

and finally, just in from GGD...at long last, scale length Amfleet cars. More pics to follow next week...

Enjoy!

@Trainbros89 posted:

Just got this beast.

Can't wait to see it run! That means 3 members of the group have one.....I wonder how may units the real Virginian RR had?

....check your email in a few hours.....the 21x42 is operational again.....going to open tomorrow AM.

Peter

No trains running but I want to shout out and acknowledge the workers it takes to keep a club running.  A seven hour work day yesterday. Thank you, fellows. With dedicated helpers like all of you, my job as Club President is made much easier......

We went from no layouts operational to putting the main lines on the 21x42 back in action and setting up the 12x15 after it's run at the Charlottesville train show.

....and a shout out to club member Jerry who took most of the pics.....

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Can't wait to see it run! That means 3 members of the group have one.....I wonder how may units the real Virginian RR had?

....check your email in a few hours.....the 21x42 is operational again.....going to open tomorrow AM.

Peter

Maybe we can lash them all up on the 21x42 😁😁. I’m not entirely sure about how many were produced, but I vaguely recall reading somewhere that not many were produced at all. Ken would definitely know that answer. I’m looking forward to the email!!

Then (Nov, 2002):

Now (Sept 17, 2021):

A 2020 Christmas Layout memory

Some closeups of the rear of the layout, going from left side to right side

walt

The country band entertains the masses:

The food area for the masses when the music takes a break

For those that prefer fresh stuff

A picnic area for those family members that didn't want to join the masses

A nice relaxing scene to enjoy

                                  Couple of Custom Rides, #2032 & 2035.

Tuesday nights Facebook Live video.

Scott Smith

@Trainbros89 posted:

Maybe we can lash them all up on the 21x42 😁😁. I’m not entirely sure about how many were produced, but I vaguely recall reading somewhere that not many were produced at all. Ken would definitely know that answer. I’m looking forward to the email!!

Well, I had to look it up. There were just 4 sets of EL-2b's: 125, 126,127, and 128. Mine is numbered 128. I don't know if Scott made more than one number.

Watch your overhead clearance on these beasts. My home layout has a six inch clearance from the rail to the lowest overhead structure. The pants extend up way more than 6". Wouldn't want to rip one off accidentally.

Ken

Last weekend at Kensington, Maryland train show with the trackers…

The time has come (the walrus said) ...I have finished all the scenery behind the tracks at Princeton Junction,...........

....but rather than talk of sealing wax,  I am now erecting catenary.

Here is one set of catenary sections.  I solder them together using phosphour bronze wire on my own home made jigs.  Each section is a slightly different length (and thus vertical hanger lengths vary as well)

The above shows six sections.  I will need a total of 44

Another view of where the catenary is going:

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Cleaning the engines at the diesel servicing facility in Altoona:

A custom run PC GP-30 crossing a private railroad crossing...

and finally, just in from GGD...at long last, scale length Amfleet cars. More pics to follow next week...

Enjoy!

@John Sethian posted:

The time has come...I have finished all the scenery behind the tracks at Princeton Junction,...........

so now I am biting the bullet, as they say, and erecting the catenary.

Here is one set of catenry sections.  I solder them together using phosphour bronze wire on my own home made jigs.  Each section is a slightly different length.

The above shows six sections.  I will need a total of 44

Here is where the catenary is going:

You two Pennsy guys make the "Standard Railroad of the World" come alive again!

Peter

A New York & Atlantic freight to start off the weekend.

Some Random pics of my Custom Built stuff. Everyone enjoy your weekend.

A couple from today.

I finally was able to get the set of 4 Atlas O Chessie System Trinity 5161 covered hoppers.

The shade of yellow looks different depending on the source of light. 

Andrew

BNSF Logistics flat cars with wind turbine blades headed West through Michigan on Saturday.

Andrew

Fall time! North Western’s SD40, SD45, SD40 and GP9 pulling empty pink grain hopper cars from storage to several Iowa towns to fill up. Grain hopper cars from Weaver, Atlas O and LionScale.
Patrick

CGWforever,

Very nice runby. Is that super elevated curvature that I see?

Dave

He may not know it yet, but baby got his first train set this weekend. Do I have to wait until he can open it before I let him have it?

@TheRambles posted:

He may not know it yet, but baby got his first train set this weekend. Do I have to wait until he can open it before I let him have it?

Certainly........you need to make sure it's working.....

Peter

Well, someone asked me to keep up tabs on my Mohawk and see how it is coming along. Here is Pat's(AKA harmonyards) topic which has my Mohawk and another person's 763 Hudson. Pat has finished his work and it is off to Alex M. who will begin to work on the electronic upgrades. Been a long weekend for me of getting things done to my car, mowing lawn and being dog tired for a portion of it. Lots of things to look forward too though.

https://ogrforum.com/...9#157265374179766089

@luvindemtrains posted:

CGWforever,

Very nice runby. Is that super elevated curvature that I see?

Dave

Dave,

   Thanks. Correct. On double main lines.

Patrick