An intriguing statement for a topic. Well, there are many times when seemingly totally unrelated paths end up crossing. I'm in the engineering "jobshop" field and am involved (in a very minor way) with the rebuilding of a section of catenary for what was once the Reading Railroad (my Alma Mater as far as modeling goes). One of the items was the suspension clamp to hang the wire. I had in my hands a copy of the part, a casting, and I was amused. I have designed and drawn countless parts in my day. It tickled me to read the drawing (look at all the lines) and transform them in my mind's eye to behold the part. The date of the drawing is 1924. That's a few years prior to the Reading's electrification expansion into the territory where this rebuilding project is to take place. If it wasn't for the politics of spending money I wouldn't have had the chance to have a look at this fabulous, and to most- insignificant antique of a drawing and consider the fact that today's technology can not replace what once was- but will make a new part, cheaper, faster, and better(?). We'll see. I was just thrilled to go over that drawing though. And now it's a must to go and shoot some photos of the caternary as it still hangs on those original castings.

Mark

Hi Guys and gals

I've been very busy with my new job.

I've also gotten some good local responces from key people who want to guide me with the start up of my rail tourism business in South Africa.

Will let everyone know how things are going hope you are all well.

Regards

For anyone who lives in the Allentown,Pa area there is a train show coming to the Merchants Square Mall May 15-16.According to the literature I got the smaller scales will be on Sat. and the larger scales on Sun. $5 for adults,10,000 sq.ft. of display area.
Just thought I'd let you know. Bob

After the crash, I was joyously happy to find my way back here. Withdrawal symtoms are ghastly. So now I have 2 questions: what procedure was it to go thru to enlarge printing to a legible size? Next, it usta was that at the top it had "view new entries". Some had red icons, and when Iread them, the icon was white. ??????????????? Now, if I knew what I was talking about, I prolly wouldn't hafta ask all this stuff.

Thanx in advance
Lynn

There was an Extreme Train marathon on the tube last PM. Many repeats, but all worth watching. I most enjoyed the episode about the giant steamer sent on a special run from Denver to Cheyenne, WY for Frontier Days.

I posted this solely because of it's erie beauty. This is Sharpless 308, located in the Canis Major region.

Hi guys,

I have just finished another custom build for the same guy as the Champion Packing Plant i posted a few days ago. This one being the Prairie Star Grain Elevator by Walthers. This was a plastic kit but had a wood panel siding on it. So, i used the original color (orange red, kinda looked like redwood) as a sub base color and added a tan color as my other base color for the wood. Then i added a darker brown and some black to simulate mold and decaying/rotting sections. I wanted this too look like it was on its last leg as a wood structure.... All together, it prolly took me 2 hours to build up layers of paint to where i was somewhat happy with it lol. I then assembled the structure and added the aluminum roof, and heavily weathered it to go with the rest of the structure.

Then i applied the decals, which i think i should have done first and sealed them on before i started painting, since it would have covered them up and blended them in better.... There was one logo on the side of the structure that just did not come out very well at all, it was the vertical logo and you could totally see the clear film on it, even after i had weathered it and tried to blend it in, so i had an idea pop into my head to make it look like an older logo that was seen on the structure maybe when it was first build decades ago. So i took some 220 grit sandpaper and lightly sanded off some of the decal, leaving bits of some pieces behind to make it look like it was a really old sign. It also made it look like the sections behind the old sign had been slightly more "preserved" then the rest of the structure. The opening on the side of the structure is where the covered conveyor will connect this structure to the Milling Building.

For now, here is some pics of the grain elevator structure, and when i finish the Milling Building, ill post those here as well....















I am interested to know what you guys think of this one?

They say one can look at a piece of art and learn something about about the artist. Do you think that is true with your layout? Can someone else look at your layout and learn a little about your personality?

If I look at my layout - I can see a few clues to my interests and who I am. The vertical scenery on my layout illustrates my preference for topography over flat land. It also illustrates my interest in the earth and geology. My choice of gauge (3') and prototype (not colorado) illustrate my desire to do something a little different than everyone else, but not so different that I stand out too much (otherwise I would have chosen an extremely rare/scale combination ). My time frame (1920) illustrates my curiosity with old things, and old places, and how people lived before I was born. I have always been curious about the remnants I see, and wonder what they must have been like to see in their prime. Finally, the small mining community that I model illustrates the adventures I have when taking road trips around my region.

So what about your layout? What does it say about who you are?

Today at Winslow, NJ - SRNJ units 803-800-3519-3578 MLW M420's shove hard to move a 50 car stone train up grade,it took them three tries to make it to the top.

Bruce

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I'm not sure where else to put this. Has something happened to the "return to last post function" after submitting a thread? It isn't working for me at all.