Just seen flying through Finse, a little plow/MOW unit at 1600hrs CET.
And another one this evening at 2330hrs CET.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A nice late fall day in Finse
16:40 local time a nice fall day in Finse... The snow is blowing, it's cold, but the Christmas tree is up...
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Great NYS Model Train Fair: Nov. 5 & 6
Two great days at the Great NYS Model Train Fair this weekend. Attendance up by 15%+ over last year, lots of folks and more kids than ever. This one below was completely mesmerized and couldn't get enough. From http://cnynrhs.org/:
My star of the show, Sofia who although promised she wouldn't have to spend a day did due to an emergency and absolutely rocked during take-down, loading/unloading, and putting everything back at home. She brought her guitar and worked on her songs while there... Thank you, Sofia. <3
Was really great to have this layout set up again and to run the littler trains (we also have z-scale) these past two days. We put a lot of effort into the modules and it showed. Despite having been invaded by oversized tent caterpillars from outer space (dust and other dirt) during the two years the modules were stored under/next to the H0 layout they cleaned up really well and didn't look tired at all.
2011 Model Train Fair a Big Success!Nov. 6--The numbers are in... and the 2011 edition of the Chapter's Great New York State Model Train Fair was an unqualified success! Attendance was up 15% over previous years. Vendors reported good sales. The results come after years of flat attendance. This year's show condensed every vendor and exhibitor into one building -- the 90,000 sf Exhibit Center at the Empire Expo. The show also eliminated admission fees for youngsters 15 and under. Next year's show is scheduled for Nov. 3 and 4, 2012.
My star of the show, Sofia who although promised she wouldn't have to spend a day did due to an emergency and absolutely rocked during take-down, loading/unloading, and putting everything back at home. She brought her guitar and worked on her songs while there... Thank you, Sofia. <3
Was really great to have this layout set up again and to run the littler trains (we also have z-scale) these past two days. We put a lot of effort into the modules and it showed. Despite having been invaded by oversized tent caterpillars from outer space (dust and other dirt) during the two years the modules were stored under/next to the H0 layout they cleaned up really well and didn't look tired at all.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Ready for the Great NYS Model Train Fair: Nov. 5 & 6
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Webcams - But wait, there are more...
Railcam in Mierlo-Hout, Netherlands
Railcam started in 2001, as one of the subjects of the website cofoto.nl. Since July 2006 the url has changed to Railcam.nl. It's a famous hotspot, with a daily high number of visitors from every country in the world, and more importantly trains. The camspot is just 30 meters away of the railway crossing at Mainstreet/Mierloseweg in Mierlo-Hout, (municipality Helmond). Railcam 1 is installed in North western direction. Sound is also included so you can hear when the crossing gates start to close.
Plattling - Bahnhof LIVE
Plattling station is a central railway hub in eastern Lower Bavaria in southern Germany that sees a nice mix of traffic throughout the day. Here's an overview of the yard via Google Maps. No sound but a great overview.
Railcam started in 2001, as one of the subjects of the website cofoto.nl. Since July 2006 the url has changed to Railcam.nl. It's a famous hotspot, with a daily high number of visitors from every country in the world, and more importantly trains. The camspot is just 30 meters away of the railway crossing at Mainstreet/Mierloseweg in Mierlo-Hout, (municipality Helmond). Railcam 1 is installed in North western direction. Sound is also included so you can hear when the crossing gates start to close.
Plattling - Bahnhof LIVE
Plattling station is a central railway hub in eastern Lower Bavaria in southern Germany that sees a nice mix of traffic throughout the day. Here's an overview of the yard via Google Maps. No sound but a great overview.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Finse – 19.10.2011
In the beautiful crisp late October darkness the night train from Bergen to Oslo pulls into Finse... This could be Syracuse, any day now... Go to the webcam here.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A New "Page" and Google Maps Project
Historic Rail and Industrial Locations in Germany is a Google Maps project was designed to help me explore old and historic rail and industrial sites. Blue pins denote railroad infrastructure such as Bws, red pins railway related infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, grades, and green pins denote industrial sites such as mines, steel mills, ... Use the form on the page to suggest additional venues.
Alte und historische Bahn- und Industrieanlagen in Deutschland ist ein Google Maps Projekt das entworfen wurde um mir beim Erkunden alter und historischer Bahn- und Industrieanlagen zu helfen. Blaue Pins deuten auf Bahnanlagen hin, rote auf bedutende Brücken, Tunnels, und Steigungen, und grüne Pins auf Industrieanlagen. Bitte die Form auf der Seite benutzen um mich auf Andere hinzuweisen.
Thank you / Danke
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
How Railroad Track is Made and Crossings Work
Two really clever German language videos from Die Sendung mit der Maus, a children's program by the WDR.
How Track is Made
The Railroad Crossing Gate
How Track is Made
The Railroad Crossing Gate
That Märklin is making a model of...
One of my favorites is about these supersized eggs...
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| http://blog.fleischerei-freese.de/2009/11/ei-da-schau-her/ |
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Düwag GT6 of the Bogestra
After what seems like years, finally cleaned the streetcar track and put the tram (at Düwag GT6 - bidirectional) back on. The model is by Rivarossi and represents line 305 of the Bogestra in Bochum/Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Here it is with an occasional intercity pulled by a 103, a 150 pulling limestone towards the steel mills and an 221 hauling a mixed freight.
And another in HD
Sunday, September 11, 2011
More Lasercuts
Was working on some more Moebo and Joswood kits again today and made an interesting discovery that impressed me more than I already was by what was possible with lasers and cardstock...
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| Today's output of kits, an industrial chimney, a shed-like structure, and two transformer stations/pump houses... |
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| Moebo's transformer station/pump house - detail of "windows." |
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| Transformer stations/pump house detail of "windows"lit from within. |
That "screen" is lasercut out of ca.1mm/40pt cardstock in H0 - Wow!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Posten 210 - My first lasercut kit 2
After a far too long break, finally finished Joswood's Posten 210and provisionally placed it in its final position on the corner of the layout above the freight yard. Adjacent to it will be a small schrebergarten with several garden sheds.Will be good to get this corner done.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Bundesbahn Allerlei
With my brother and his kids here this past week I knew that they would want to see and play with the trains. That gave me the extra push I needed to clean the track and dust the cobwebs off of the layout... Even on the switching puzzle. Also swapped out the standard Roco decoders on several engines for LokPilot 4s and what a difference that made in AC analog mode...
With some of my book projects winding down it will be fun to spend more time modeling, weathering, and running the trains. Also will need to take the modules out of storage and prep them modules for Central NY Railfair in November. Maybe I'll even finish my puzzle makeover project.
With some of my book projects winding down it will be fun to spend more time modeling, weathering, and running the trains. Also will need to take the modules out of storage and prep them modules for Central NY Railfair in November. Maybe I'll even finish my puzzle makeover project.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Railfanning in Maine
Maine Scenes
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| Red's Eats in Wiscasset - Legendary for its lobster rolls |
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| Typical Maine lobster shack... |
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| Pemaquid Lighthouse |
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| A tiny House |
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| A bridge to nowhere - Rt 1 in Wiscasset |
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| Waiting for the 9am to Brunswick at Wiscasset on the Maine Eastern Railroad |
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| Maine Eastern FL9 number 488 |
Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay, Maine
See also my report on the steamcourse I took in 2003, returning in 2004 to fire for two days. Both experiences were on #6.
See also my report on the steamcourse I took in 2003, returning in 2004 to fire for two days. Both experiences were on #6.
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| Freeport (Maine) Station |
Henschel (#6) Stettin
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| Highspeed Rail |
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| Highspeed Rail and the Percival House |
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Currywurst, in Syracuse?
Anyone who is a regular visitor to my webpages will likely have noticed my affinity for the industrial haze of Germany's Ruhrgebiet, in particular the ubiquitous kiosks that are everywhere serving up news, sweets, other essentials, but most importantly things like currywurst mit pommes (fries) and mayo. Anyhow, before I digress too far while going for my haircut today I noticed a trailer with Walking Taco on the top and Currywurst below. I knew I just had to stop and try one, nevermind the pouring rain. Ordered in German, the owner didn't skip a beat and it was delicious. No pommes (fries) and mayo though. :-( Will definitely be back, either there in Manlius next to Sno Top or at their other location in Paradise Market. The trailer is definitely the more authentic venue...
The currywurst is said to originate in one of three places, the Ruhr, Hamburg, or Berlin. Franz Rogmans Walking Taco's is modeled on the Berlin variety and served with a good roll even though he grew up next to the Ruhr. It is even namesake to a fair movie based on the novelle by Uwe Timm. Most famous of all is Herbert Grönemeyer's song of the same title. For those non-German speakers, the New York Times had a good article.
Other links:
Anyway, I love this kind of food and ambiance, and have modeled at least one such kiosk on my layout in the form of Bochum's Bergbau-Grill (original and model below). Those that want their own should visit the page just linked to.
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| Walking Taco's Currywurst truck in Manlius, NY, next to Sno Top in the parking lot. |
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| Eine glückliche Kundin! |
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| Our first batch with curryketchup made from scratch. Yes that's mayo on those fries! |
Other links:
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2959505/The-Invention-of-the-Currywurst-Film-sends-Germanys-sausage-war-from-bad-to-wurst.html
- http://www.trailerseite.de/archiv/trailer-2008/9746-die-entdeckung-der-currywurst-film-trailer.html
Anyway, I love this kind of food and ambiance, and have modeled at least one such kiosk on my layout in the form of Bochum's Bergbau-Grill (original and model below). Those that want their own should visit the page just linked to.
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