Weekend Update 12/16/12

[btsnyder27]

Lots of awesome stuff this weekend!

Pud, that GP looks really awesome. I like all the piping. It's definitely a slight difference from the usual torpedo tube geeps.

And the FEC SD40-2? Be still my heart...

I spent yesterday shooting geological research photos of the NCR (it's time for the layout to rock...), and today I ran a bunch of Reading era stuff on the BANTRAK layout at the B&O museum. No good pics though.

Speaking of the B&O museum, I also got a cab ride in the Chessie GP38. That thing is really nice!

Oh, and on the truly sad front. Sean, Tristan (from the CRHS) and I closed Pollock Johnnies on their last day. I thought you guys would be proud.

Sorry I couldn't tag along for that this weekend!  Was a good time last year (or whenever that was).  Is PJ's closed for good now???

On the railroading front, was back home in western PA for the weekend, and went and snooped around the old shop complex (well, the site of the former roundhouse and turntable...not much left) at Blairsville, PA, which was located inside the wye of the Indiana Branch and the Conemaugh Line (and associated connecting yard tracks).  After leaving there, went to Clem's famous BBQ (2013 CRHS Convention stop??), and snooped around the powerplant at New Florence, and while driving along, a loaded coal train is flying up the Sang Hollow at close to 50 mph....with four of us in my parents' minivan, I proceeded to drive like a madman to race back and get the shot at Conpitt Jct.  Kudos to Chrysler for making a minivan that can handle 60+ mph on western PA's less than stellar 1.5 lane rural roads with minimal fuss....

[Smike]

Another great weekend of posts! Great stuff from all.

Modeling modern era stuff is great, but every once in a while I need to bend the rules and take care of that soft spot for those Alcos. Just picked this up this past week. Way to clean and fully operable (we will fix that to be true to the LV RR tradition) It’s my first Atlas Masterline Alco and I'm impressed.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sorry I couldn't tag along for that this weekend!  Was a good time last year (or whenever that was).  Is PJ's closed for good now???

Well, probably. They're "reorganizing" and looking at various options for both a new restaurant or grocery store distribution.

[wm3798]

I looked at some real estate this weekend, nice location, but no space for a layout...


Then we did some field research along the WM right of way...


Then I got a little steamed...


Then I did the 100 yard dash up the hill at Helmstetters to get this shot...


Which reminded me of this shot I took in 1989...


I'm happy to report that life outside the train room is treating me well...
Lee

[Ian MacMillan]

I looked at some real estate this weekend, nice location, but no space for a layout...

Reminds me of House on the Rock in Spring Green, WI

[Jim Starbuck]

That would be the Edgar Kaufman residence aka Fallingwater.
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
One of those "someplace I definately want to visit" landmarks.
Did you submit an offer Lee?

Jim

[wm3798]

After what we paid to take the tour, I thought I had rented it for a month!

Lee

[Cajonpassfan]

Funny....
Probably too humid for a model railroad anyway. Better try one of his western creations, like Taliesin West
Otto K

[Roger Holmes]

Lee-- Does the fact that the train in this year's photo appears further away than the 1989 version mean that you can run up the hill faster now than you did then?

Fallingwater is also on my bucket list.  I've been to the FLW home and studio in Oak Park, IL several times and Springfield has one of the best preserved Wright homes which is open to the public.

[John]

they have sure trimmed the trees around the curve ..

[GN Fan]

Falling Water like all Frank Llyod Wright buildings have a problem with leaking roofs.

Tom

[peteski]

Lee-- Does the fact that the train in this year's photo appears further away than the 1989 version mean that you can run up the hill faster now than you did then?

Fallingwater is also on my bucket list.  I've been to the FLW home and studio in Oak Park, IL several times and Springfield has one of the best preserved Wright homes which is open to the public.

There is also the Zimmerman House in Manchester, NH.  http://www.currier.org/collections/zimmerman.aspx  I've been there few times (My GF was the house docent for a while).

[up1950s]

New word to me , maybe others .

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docent

[sirenwerks]

Falling Water like all Frank Llyod Wright buildings have a problem with leaking roofs.

Why do you think they named it Falling Waters?

BTW, don't blame the architect for the leak, blame the engineers and contractors.

[C855B]

New word to me , maybe others .

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docent

Heh. Docent. Now that I'm on the board of our small-town history museum, I'm having to teach the board and staff this new-to-them word, too. Robyn worked at a major metro museum for a decade, and "docent" became part of our daily vernacular pretty quickly. It's almost a trade buzzword.

We have a friend here who does the tours. He's a pretty decent docent.