Pappeck Reko-projekt on the Branchline - 4

Been ages since I worked on the layout (last update on 1/21), but decided it was time to dust some of the cobwebs that covered things and play around with placement of the station that I built up during the spring. Rocking to Ballast der Republik bei the Toten Hosen with its relentless beat and songs like the title track and Schade, Scheiße, Wie Kann Das Passieren. HIGHLY recommend the album for those who understand German.

Have everything I need to finish (this corner) and just need to to get moving. Hard to juggle between this, binding projects, and general malaise brought on by work... Manchmal kann ich das Schwartze vor den Augen nimmer sehen. Aufwärts gehts! 

Model Railways - A look back...

2 really nice English videos explaining the model railroad hobby...

From the introduction by Weslake500 at YouTube where these live:

Originally shown on Saturday mornings in 1975. Part of the 'Model World' series of modelling programs hosted by Bob Symes. The last three programs of the series were all about model railways.

For those of us of a certain age, these programs hosted by Bob Symes, introduced and opened up the fantastic world of models, and for me personally, model railways.

I therefore consider it selfish to keep the now aging vhs tape of these model railway programs (videoed some almost fifteen years ago), to myself.

These model railway programs along with childhood hero Bob Symes (who id still like to meet) remain personally as fantastic and inspiring today, as they were all them years ago as a child.

I hope you still enjoy them today as much as I still do.

Enjoy.

Steamtown in March

It's great to be paid to go on a railfanning fieldtrip to Steamtown USA. Hadn't been there in about 2 years so nice to be back. Due to a derailment, see below we had to go in the long way, through the yard (horrible I say, just horrible ;-) ). Unfortunately, didn't have the camera handy for cleaner shots of the derailment, and by the time we left it had been moved... Did have some time to myself though and had a blast going through the yard...

Delaware Lackawanna #2461, an ALCO C425

Delaware Lackawanna (DL) #2461, an ALCO C425, DL 405, an ALCO C420, and DL 4252, another ALCO C425.

Delaware Lackawanna (DL) #2423, an ALCO C425. In the background derailed DL #3642, an ALCO C636, then DL 211, a RS-32, and finally DL 3000 (a Montreal Locomotive Works/ALCO M630)

A really cool yard switcher moving a Lackawanna coach into the shop. See the video below to watch it move...

A new tender being made for Canadian National Pacific #3254 that runs at Steamtown

A very sad Shay

Front end of a Boston and Maine tender showing the automatic stoker that made the fireman's job much easier...

 Parts is parts...

Watching Trains in Real-time

Watch trains moving across the country in real time with the Süddeutsche Zeitung's Zugmonitor, a webcam of a different kind. Site is designed to show where there are delays, but entertaining none-the-less.

To stop the video and track in real time, click on "LIVE" in the upper right.What this shows: each black arrow is a long distance train en-route. Clicking on it shows the route and on the right a window opens displaying the stations. The arrows surrounded by colored circles are trains that are late. The darker the circle, the later it is. Clicking on one of those also gives the reason for delay at top of the window. Using the (Suche) window, you can also choose the type of trains you want displayed and also select stations.

Site in German only... Click image to start watching.