Weekend Update 5/28/23

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I so love dogs where you can see the intelligence and love in their eyes, and the drive to communicate with you. Good for you guys.

Yep. She is all of those things. She's truly wonderful and Terri was absolutely 100% correct in that "some times the right dog comes along at the right time".

[lock4244]

After Strasburg on Saturday I snuck in a few minutes in Baltimore on the way back from training our Sadie dog.

That's a fine looking dog you've got there, Ed.

I wanted a better shot so we headed down to Boston Street. I had heard the DS talking about "watch out for the empties coming out". Well, we get down to the crossing and here they were. Canton is getting so bougie now. Terri was able to run into Starbucks while I was shooting this. Then we checked out Bark Social, a bar/coffee+dog park kinda place. It's sure a big difference from this: https://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/galleries/conrails-last-day-on-boston-street-in-baltimore

That's a great gallery, operations like that were great to see, sad to lose. Any idea as to a date? I'm thinking before 1999 since that CR looks like CR... half expecting to see a young Frank Sobotka lamenting the gentrification of his town somewhere in those shots.

[lock4244]

I completed a Richmond Tank Car 5800 cu ft covered hopper. These cars are easily recognizable with the prominent H-shaped frame members and hopper bays that go halfway up the body. I remember seeing these with ECUX reporting marks.

MTL couplers are attached to a pin printed with the body and have a rectangular protrusion behind to prevent the coupler box from rotating. A little bit of water soluble glue makes sure they don't fall out.

Pretty interesting prototype... they're ugly but in a way that makes them stand out amongst their contemporaries.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's a fine looking dog you've got there, Ed.

That's a great gallery, operations like that were great to see, sad to lose. Any idea as to a date? I'm thinking before 1999 since that CR looks like CR... half expecting to see a young Frank Sobotka lamenting the gentrification of his town somewhere in those shots.

Thanks. She's awesome.

Haha, and yep. *****, what year was that... @wm3798 , do you remember the year you shot those?

[Point353]

You need a couple of these decals for your car:

[Olivani]

Hey Ed, what's your number plate ? I can barely read it in the picture. 

Oliver

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You need a couple of these decals for your car:

I've got a couple of these, but I use them for my DCC in a box.
https://www.cmrproducts.com/Vinyl-Sticker-Pennsylvania-Railroad-Radio-PRR-Logo-p102837291

That said, I try to keep the car sticker free. I really like having as few distinguishing marks on it as possible to make it stealthy when necessary. That said, it's kinda tough when I've never ever another like it on the road.

[C855B]

... I really like having as few distinguishing marks on it as possible to make it stealthy when necessary. That said, it's kinda tough when I've never ever another like it on the road.

It's stealthy enough. The details on your hot-rod version are subtle and won't be noticed by the non-cognoscenti. We called them "sleepers" back the day, like the Beetle I had with double the HP, just short of a Porsche engine. Left the exterior stock. Skunked more than a few off the line.

I learned stealth, and there was the anti-stealth approach to this in my railfanning. Anti-stealth was an early Explorer bristling with antennas. White, no graphics, stock steel wheels - nothing "consumer" on it. It looked just like the ones the Special Agents drove on some RRs, NS and UP to mention a couple. It gave me a pass everywhere, sort of like wearing a hardhat and an orange safety vest, and carrying a clipboard. Never questioned.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's stealthy enough. The details on your hot-rod version are subtle and won't be noticed by the non-cognoscenti. We called them "sleepers" back the day, like the Beetle I had with double the HP, just short of a Porsche engine. Left the exterior stock. Skunked more than a few off the line.

I learned stealth, and there was the anti-stealth approach to this in my railfanning. Anti-stealth was an early Explorer bristling with antennas. White, no graphics, stock steel wheels - nothing "consumer" on it. It looked just like the ones the Special Agents drove on some RRs, NS and UP to mention a couple. It gave me a pass everywhere, sort of like wearing a hardhat and an orange safety vest, and carrying a clipboard. Never questioned.

Haha, yeah. We did a railfan safari a few years ago and had a white Tahoe. We realized we could go anywhere.

It's stealthiness is one of the numerous things I like about the thing. I thought about looking for a replacement when the warranty ended but nothing else checks all the boxes for me.

[wm3798]

Thanks. She's awesome.

Haha, and yep. *****, what year was that... @wm3798 , do you remember the year you shot those?

I was working for the East Baltimore GUIDE right out of college.  So 1987 or thereabouts seems right.  As I recall it was in the spring.  I wish I had a more specific date.  They sent that lone GP38-2 up the President Street branch to retrieve the Railbox from American Can, which was about to close for good.  I'm 99% certain that was the last rail movement on the line, but I can't guarantee that something else didn't sneak up there one night on another clean up detail.

Lee

[up1950s]

  BOLO ... speeder in a shiny black Buick with a stuffed sheep hangin' on the mirror driven by Clara Bell .

[bbussey]

Great work on the car but I have to ask about the name?  RINGING Bros.?? Is this a typo?

Sure is.  Looks like I have five cars to patch.  Fortunately there is enough wordspace to apply "LING" patches.