So it wasn't the most exciting afternoon...

[grande man]

Hi all. I thought I'd post a few pics from today's railfan trip strictly for entertainment value. I was sitting around the house thinking about writing a train schedule for the layout (using a real schedule the Colo RR museum). It dawned on me that I could work on that beside the CSX. ;) Folks from work have been calling all afternoon, seems an airplane broke. :rolleyes: So much for the vacation time... Anyway, getting out seemed like the thing to do. :)

First, today's company (LGM is at the grandfolks house).
Ya'll may recognize Jessie from a post some time back. He's a veteran Lab railfanning pooch. The new mutt (little one) is Dixie. She's my little girl's new puppy. This is one of her first "big dog" trips. LGM and I call her the "swamp skunk" because he was concerned for her safety during hunting season (personally, our own hides are further up the list for me :D ), to which I replied "yeah, someone might mistake her for a swamp skunk and get a round off at her." She's fun to watch around the lab. For the most part, she does exactly what he does. If he barks, runs, takes a leak, etc, so does she. :D
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/123722271.jpg

Approach lit block signal. Could something be coming out of the south?
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/123722273.jpg

Yep, a northbound empty coal drag. ;) The engineer was nice enough to give me a couple of short blasts of the horn as the train approached.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/123722276.jpg

So much for the only train I saw today... (I got there kinda late :o )
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/123722275.jpg

Oh yeah, I did manage to get a little work done on the train schedule. ;)

[grande man]

Man, it just struck me, that may be my all-time most worthless post. :D

[dthurman]

Not at all, the shots of the dogs was what made the post ;)

She's cute, bet she runs Jessie ragged, with her still being a pup and all.

[grande man]

She's cute, bet she runs Jessie ragged, with her still being a pup and all.

I think harrassment would be a better term. Sometimes I feel sorry for the Jester. :D It is constant. :D

[Lady_Railfan]

Nah! The shot of the pup and her big bro made it all worthwhile! :)

[Lady_Railfan]

:D See? Two more posts while I was typing. :D

[tcwright973]

Your pics brought to mind some very good memories. I had a little female who was the twin to your Dixie, right down to the flopped over ears and white blaze on her chest. Her name was Princess and she was a little sweetie. When she had to be put down, we were at the Humane Society within a half hour getting a new puppy. Who was named "Dixie" on the way home. Thanks for your post.
Tom

[grande man]

That's cool, Tom. I'm glad you remembered something enjoyable.

As for this Dixie, she is an outside dog with GREAT lapdog potential. :D She had a fun trip today.

[dthurman]

I have always had a great attraction to dogs, my mom used to raise and breed german shepards. My railfan/train room guard is Cruise, he's part Chow and who knows what, Collie I think, he is always within 10 feet of me when I am at home, I get up, he gets up, I sit down, he sits down, extremely protective of me, a little to much at times.

http://www.wpgrr.com/WPG_2/WPG_2-Images/67.jpg

The only draw back is when I sweep the floor, I swear I can make another dog, or he should be bald :)

[RexHea]

SEE Eric, you do have a good post. Many of us enjoy it.;) What do your buddies do when a train comes by? Do they just look or bark or wave at the Engineer:D ?

[dthurman]

If they have any hunting instinct, I would think they run down that train to wear it down?

[grande man]

SEE Eric, you do have a good post. Many of us enjoy it.;) What do your buddies do when a train comes by? Do they just look or bark or wave at the Engineer:D ?

When I see the signal light up, I load them into the truck. Dixie didn't quite know what to think about the train. Jester just sits there. He's seen a million trains.

Interestingly, this train was moving pretty good, and there's a section of repaired track there with the old style rail-web bolt on plates holding the rail together. It makes for some great old time clickety-clack as the train goes by. That's one of the finer things in life I miss in modern railroading with welded rail. It also provided some extra noise to get Dixie broken in as a railfanning pooch.

[dthurman]

Cruise is pretty good, except for the horn, he get's a little wound up with sirens, fireworks and extremely loud noises.

Come to Peoria Eric, you can get all the clickety-clack you want :) TZPR is a terminal RR and they still have sectional as well as the TP&W are still holding out on welded.

[RexHea]

Eric: You should train Jester to watch the signal for you and make a point when it changes, then Dixie can give off two short howls as a signal to get you ready.:D

David: I sure understand about the loud noises. Rusty, my Golden Retriever, goes bonkers with thunder and firecrackers. He's had it rough this weekend with all the bangs and booms. Moe, our miniature poodle could care less.

[grande man]

Eric: You should train Jester to watch the signal for you and make a point when it changes, then Dixie can give off two short howls as a signal to get you ready.:D

David: I sure understand about the loud noises. Rusty, my Golden Retriever, goes bonkers with thunder and firecrackers. He's had it rough this weekend with all the bangs and booms. Moe, our miniature poodle could care less.

We lost a dog we were all crazy about one New Years Eve years ago. After all the kids left home, my Mom used to keep her for us. She got out somehow and got so spooked at the fireworks that we never saw her again.:( The female lab we lost last summer (Swamp Pig, not to be confused with the Swamp Skunk), would run around the yard and bark at thunder. It was fun to watch because she really went into the attack mode. :D

[dthurman]

We're a block from our local volunteer fire dept, so when the siren goes off, Cruise will start howling. If he is in lazy mood, and laying on the floor, he will howl while laying down :)

It is a little annoying when it's 3 AM and the siren goes off, he as yet doesn't tell time.

[L&N Castle]

Grande Man,from the looks of things,the day wasn't a total loss, after all,you did catch one train,and got some really nice photos,and the dogs are really neat.Too bad there wasn't much traffic,but one is better than none.:cool: William.

[chrismoore93]

What do ya know Grande Man we both have two dogs. Only one problem, one is afraid of the camera ;). So here is my white German Shepard named Blizzard posing infront of the family Christmas tree! Click on the pic to make it bigger.
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/5880/dscf04746lb.th.jpg (http://img203.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf04746lb.jpg)
Ain't he the cutest:p!

[enjineerbill]

Hello Eric,

I can't hold back on this thread any longer. This is a GREAT post. It shows the many sides of what a great model railroader can be!! Yes, we do have other interests!! Isn't that what makes it all so worthwhile?!

Now for Dixie, I'm in love! She may be 'naughty' but that's what is so cool about a dog's spirit. Never want to break that. They are magnificent companions. Love the Lab too, she looks like she only takes 'so much':D from Dixie.

Now to share,
1) This is George, He was rescued by us(as were ALL of our animals) and even though he's a big guy, plays ever so gentle with the other ruffians:cool: .
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2) Clockwise from top;
a) Mika, aka "Flash",-World's slowest dog. Might have A.D.D.:eek:

b) Chessie(yes:rolleyes: ) - Instigator, actually NOT a dog but has the others believing she is. Poses in all dog photos to throw off suspicion.

c) Mollie, Dachshund. Wiener dog. She is a sweetheart, tons of expression in this girls face. Spends ALL DAY on back of sofa 'patrolling' the neighbors.

d) Montana, Mini-Dachshund, Cocktail-weinerdog. This is the enforcer. He has had it with just about everything! And he is not affraid to tell you about it. While typing this out he is standing in the kitchen giving me the the dickens because I'm not paying attention to him.

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Not pictured: C.J., (casey Jones) 27 lb. :eek: 'Maine Coon' cat. Plain evil. Stalks everyone. Any wonder why she's "Daddies Girl"?;)

So there you have it, our 'kids'. We have a four bedroom home and the animals have their own bedroom. Yep, spoiled rotten:D . We wouldn't have it any other way! Thanks Eric, for bringing out the "beasts" in us. With a group like this I was SURE we had animal lovers here!:cool: !

Johnny

[RexHea]

Nice looking children, Johnny.
I guess that I will show off my buddies again. Rusty is the Golden Retriever and loves children. He is probably the most gentle and smartest dog I have ever had. You probably have seen him in a bean commericial:rolleyes: . Moe is the miniature poodle and is always getting into some kind of mischief, bullying Rusty, chasing away our cat Tosha. Should of named them "Mutt and Jeff"

The first picture is of Rusty and me and his second picture is him getting lots of love from my niece and her daughter.

The picture of Moe is him dragging his present out from under the Christmas tree and opening it. All we did was point the present out...he did the rest.

Not pictured is Tosha. She's out...ugh...cat'in around.

[enjineerbill]

Hey, Hey, nice lookin' brood yourself Rex:cool: . Ah the simple pleasures life brings:) :D :) :D .

Johnny

[CBCNSfan]

Hi Chris, you'd better loosen the neckerchief around snowball's neck, his tongue 's hanging out so far I believe he's choking :D nice looking pet though.

Hi Rex Moe must be a poodle, that photo brings back old memories, yep the poodle knew which ones were for her, strange but true. Now the Lady (photo below) couldn't care less, we rescued her from the pound 10 years ago.

Cheers Willis
http://www.boomspeed.com/nibbs/Lady.JPG

[enjineerbill]

Another rescue, Way to go Willis!!!:cool: (BTW Handsome pooch)

Johnny

[RexHea]

A beautiful Lady, Willis. Yeah, Moe is a poodle and thinks he is the boss of the house. Rusty just lets him do his thing...unless he feels a sharp tooth...then things get exciting. I tell everyone that Moe is a Pit Poodle:eek: :D !

[dthurman]

Willis, Cruise was looking at the monitor when I was reading your post, he asked me to ask you if Lady had a boyfriend. He is a good guy, though he hasn't had a job yet, but hey, he's just a dog ;)

[grande man]

Wow. Great pics guys!

Here's a few of our latest. Can ya'll tell I'm on vacation? :D

The full crew on the 3rd. Mrs GM and Little Mrs GM usually don't accompany us on railfan outings, so this was a special trip. Note Jess and Dixie getting in the pic. Aren't camera timers great? :D
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124658070.jpg

Here's a noteworthy train we saw that day. It had 5 locos, just like old times. :D
I love the warbonnet GE on the point.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124658071.jpg

On the 4th, LGM and I took a little railfanning hike. Here's a southbound mixed freight crossin Mulberry Fork. We were in some rough country to get this shot. ;)
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124661785.jpg

Here's a shot of the same trestle from the top. Note the provisions for a second track. Back in the L&N days, this was double track territory.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124659501.jpg

Another timer shot of LGM and I by the trestle.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124659503.jpg

Dixie and the Jester waiting for a train while we ate lunch. Notice that Jess is wet and Dixie is dry? That's because I had to carry the little twerp across a creek while Jess dove right in... :D
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124659504.jpg

LGM fixing lunch. Josh, does the sight of those MREs make you hungry? :D
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL615/3680850/8376099/124659500.jpg

[OldGettysk]

Nice Pics Grandman , wish I was tailing along in the caboose OLDGETTYSK

[RexHea]

Great shots. Looks like you guys are having a good time. I can't think of anything better than being in the great outdoors with the family and even trains. I believe I would change the menu a bit...maybe some hoop cheese and crackers, Vienna sausage or bolony, Moon Pie, and a good hot cup of coffee.

Don't get on Dixie's case. After all, she is a little girl you know and should be carried across creeks.:D Her picture looks like she is just waiting to get into trouble.

[enjineerbill]

Great shots. Looks like you guys are having a good time. ..............Don't get on Dixie's case. After all, she is a little girl you know and should be carried across creeks.:D Her picture looks like she is just waiting to get into trouble.

Great shots is Right!! Man what a cool trestle. And Dixie, Oh boy she's got that look in her eye alright:cool: :eek: . Should make for a very enjoyable family member!!

Johnny

[grande man]

Paul, You'd be welcome on our trips. The drive down might be tough though. :D

Rex, We've definitely had a good time. LGM and I may just do a few more trips next week.

Johnny, That curved trestle is almost scary to watch trains cross from the top! There's another, similar trestle on this line where we've watched alot. The locos in a consist "get out of time" with each other crossing it. There's alot of verticle movement with one engine moving up while the next moves down. It's quite a sight when there's 4 or 5 engines in a consist! Some of the train speeds on it are pretty high (45+) as well.

[enjineerbill]

......... The locos in a consist "get out of time" with each other crossing it. There's alot of verticle movement with one engine moving up while the next moves down. It's quite a sight when there's 4 or 5 engines in a consist! Some of the train speeds on it are pretty high (45+) as well.


So I AM a prototype modeler after all!!!:D :eek: :D

Johnny

[CBCNSfan]

G'd evening all, busy day for me. Other than inside for the meals I've been doing modifications on the motor home. The gas gage stopped working on the car so I suppose I'll have to look at that soon.
Lady says thanks for the complements, she's about 10 years old now so what's that like, about 70 years for a human. I feed her two Glucosamine sulfate caplets each day and that seems to keep her joints from pain and keeps her going during the winter months.
Cruise was looking at the monitor when I was reading your post, he asked me to ask you if Lady had a boyfriend.
Hi David, well yes and no :D she says her unfeeling humans had her spayed so anyone and everyone are just friends now :D
Pit Poodle Hi Rex, yes, aren't all poodles like that. All other dogs must think poodles are from some weird cult. Ours couldn't have cared less who she would bite. Gosh she was a miniature and I seen lots of big men back off when she snarled at them. Moved like greased lightening. The vet figured she came from a puppy mill and had some problems, ending with sugar diabetes as the vet said she had five good years but a rough beginning.
Another rescue, Way to go Willis!!! Hi Johnny, we figure there was some divine intervention here. Actually we were trying to purchase a medium to large dog from a kennel, of which there are many of them in this area, plus private sales from litters. Absolutely, and mostly unbelievable there were no dogs available, anywhere we called including the next two counties. ( This could be in Ripley's Believe it or Not), something like a redneck not having a hound dawg. My wife suggested we call the shelter and the rest is history. So she was saved from the needle. The reason we wanted a larger dog was there were a rash of break ins, where elderly folk had been beaten. One day while I was away, two young fellows in a pickup drove in the driveway. They were trying the door and the windows from the deck. When my wife opened the inside door to the porch the Lady got ahead of her growling and acting very ferocious, sprang at the window that one of them was trying to open. They jumped in their truck and that was the last we were bothered. When either of us answers the door Lady gets between us and the door, one could wonder at this, but we've never seen her snarl at anyone else. LOL no one has bothered us since.
Nice lot of pictures, looks like your family has some nice outings Eric, the lady would teach Dixie to go into the water, wish we were younger again.
Cheers Willis