Good Early Morning Everyone. It's 74° and raining which is why I am not out walking right now. Looks like 1.7" in the rain gauge from overnight, but it was dark and still raining so I didn't linger out there for too long. Should be gone before I have to drive to Mass. Didn't really have any outdoor activities planned for today anyway.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I ballasted another 4' stretch of mainline including two turnouts, and maybe 5' of industrial siding. Painted a few more turnouts which are next in line for ballasting - these always require a little TLC. RANT -I really don't like these scale McHenry couplers that Athearn has been putting on their equipment for the past ten years or so. While they do have a spring like Kadees do, they jam open or closed on a rather regular basis. I generally keep stock couplers on equipment until they give me trouble, then I replace them with Kadee #148's; which couple with my extensive fleet of #5's better than the scale #158's do.
Terry - Gosh, even the doggie has got a black cloud. You're not really alone though, my granddog who has been staying with us, has puked in the house twice in the last eight days. At least I didn't discover it in the middle of the night, barefoot in the dark!
Louis - That is an interesting graphic that you posted yesterday. Interesting in that with two exceptions, 18 of the 20 cities are east of a roughly New Orleans-St. Louis-Milwaukee line.
Toot - The Armadillos would probably survive on most of your continent. Their only enemies are vehicles. When frightened, they jump straight up in the air several feet and hit the underside of the vehicle above them, which usually spells death on the highway. The vultures and buzzards around here love them so they must be tasty. I know that people eat them as well up near where
Sherrel was raised, as well as in other rural areas!
Garry - Thanks for the comment regarding the houses. They are only lined up there while I get the basic landscaping done where they will eventually end up. I don't normally have RR tracks in front yards! On another note, you are absolutely right regarding addiction not being confined to big cities. Even out here inm my rural county of 38,000 there is a meth problem. Fortunately it is mostly centered up in the far northern part of the county that borders Oklahoma near their casino. Too many homeowners with big guns (who use them) in the southern part where I reside.
Ken (D&J) - Good luck in your search for the box. Did you look in the china cabinet? Nice videos as well, especially the yard and passing trains.
Sherrel - Thanks for the pictures of the scrapyard. It does look "too clean" compared with the ones in TX. I am glad that you are feeling better. As others have posted, just give it some time. That was TWO major surgeries back-to-back only five or six weeks ago.
Joe - Thanks for the recent well-thought posts. I too read that story regarding the teachers union in NYC. What a shame that the union and media think that way. While it was not possible for me to send my three kids to private or charter schools, the rural district that we are in has an excellent school, run by folks with old-fashioned ideas regarding education. Until the late '90's, all of the school bus drivers carried paddles on their buses, although they were mostly for show. Kept kids in line though because all parents in the district approved of them. I had one valedictorian, one salutatorian and all three had partial scholarships to college. They now all make far more $$ than I ever did! Best of all, none of the three moved back home after college graduation!
Curt - Your friend Doug's layout looks impressive. Thanks for the pictures. Thanks to you too
Phil for reminding
Curt! Separate outbuilding is the way I went as well. I know that not everyone is able to do that, but it is really optimal for me. Of course I don't have to trek through 3' of snow to get there either.
Everyone have a great Sunday.
Willie