Plow Flies Through Finse

Just seen flying through Finse, a little plow/MOW unit at 1600hrs CET. 

And another one this evening at 2330hrs CET.

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...

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/:

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.

Ready for the Great NYS Model Train Fair: Nov. 5 & 6

All packed up and ready to go to the
Great NYS Model Train Fair this Nov. 5 & 6

More about the modules at here and here.

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.

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.

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

Driver 8 by REM

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

There was even a train decorated with images from the show...

That Märklin is making a model of...

http://medienpdb.maerklin.de/produkte/pdfs/Mae_HerbstNH_2011_DE.pdf

One of my favorites is about these supersized eggs...

http://blog.fleischerei-freese.de/2009/11/ei-da-schau-her/

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 

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...

Today's output of kits, an industrial chimney, a shed-like structure, and two transformer stations/pump houses...

Moebo's transformer station/pump house - detail of "windows."

Transformer stations/pump house detail of "windows"lit from within.

That "screen" is lasercut out of ca.1mm/40pt cardstock in H0 - Wow!

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.