Train nuts

[Taj]

Yeah, I used to be one but have been recovered for a number of years. So, last weekend I ventured into a local hobby shop to see what they had for Thomas the Tank Engine stuff. (3yo grandson loves it.) While I have been out of the loop someone comes up with On30. No! I will not invest in a bunch of fancy HO snap track and DDC control stuff. I might, however, buy some HOn3 track and put together a small loop to use all that stuff I built years ago, just so grandson can be further inspired.

[Big and Bashful]

I prefer the virtual option. Thundering up the West Coast Mainline through Scotland, passing villages and going under bridges I know well while at the controls of an express passenger train in Railworks 2 works for me. I just like simulations. whether they are driving, train, ship or submarine, they help me pass the time when I am not out on my boat.

[Kirbstone]

As a computer game these simulations are infinitely more preferrable than that mindless violence they sell the kids nowadays, which all divorce shooting people on sight &c. from reality and in my view encourage antisocial behaviour among the young.

I expect your voyage aboard 'Royalist' was very real, not virtual, B&B. How did it go?

Tom K.

[Taj]

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought of a video train run. I've made plenty of real runs while I was in the industry. I've worked on 3 railroads, one was a tourist attraction /museum, and two were regular commercial lines. I'm guessing I haven't missed an inch of mainline on the Alaska Railroad. These days I'm way too busy with music to do much train fan stuff. I still like watching trains.

[Big and Bashful]

Royalist was excellent! Great crew, a few great sails, good evenings in pubs, climaxing on Thursday night with the skippers birthday bash in our local hotel while the ship sat on our local pier! Cooking is hard work for those numbers, but I now have a week as ship's cook booked in August. To be honest I am a bit wary but I am sure the cooking of 3 meals a day for 32 people for 6 days will go ok! In a tiny galley which keeps moving and going to strange angles!

[r.m.anderson]

Here is what I am into (Life Member Friends of the 261) LINK:

http://www.261.com

This is big boy real time stuff.
Our organization has a vintage steam locomotive that was in service in the 40s and 50s.
Then was parked at Green Bay as a museum piece.
It was restored to excursion service about 20 or so years ago.
Due to government requirements (boiler inspections/permits etc.) we had to tear the locomotive
down and rebuild it. Currently we are about 3 months from putting it back on the rails for service.
In the mean time we hire Amtrak to ferry our cars around the U.S.
Railroad Heritage Society (261.com) has 17 vintage cars mostly from the Milwaukee Road RR.
Most of our rolling stock was seen at the Quad Cities (Davenport-Moline-Rock Island-Bettendorf)
TrainFest this past weekend 7/23-24. The classic SuperDome and Cedar Rapids observation cars
are always a big attraction. Due to a prior committment I was not able to attend the show.

LINK to TrainFest:

http://www.trainfestival2011.com

This is the place to be if you love trains.
Getting up real close to the action you really have to watch yourself with the steam locomotives belching steam
and hot coal cinders it is no place for skirts or kilts - unless you like the hair on your legs removed in the most painful manner.
LOL

rm

[Kirbstone]

Great stuff, RM. When we next hit Stateside we're going to catch one of those trains, probably through the Rockies. We need to do this while we're still fit, as at age 69 now, my ol' clock is ticking away....!

Tom K.