Good morning.
23 degrees with an expected high in the mid 40's again.
Didn't check in yesterday as the wife and I took off to Butte for out dental check up. After the dentist visit we met up with some friends and had lunch at a place called the Metals. It is a restaurant and sport bar in the main floor of the old Metal Bank. great food and we usually do stop there if we are there at lunch time. The old building has been restored inside also.
You can even have your lunch inside the old bank vault if you want. While having lunch, I was looking at a couple of abandoned building across the street and they could be
prototypes for some of the
DPM kits available.
There is a lot of history in Butte which we enjoy visiting when we have time. Not only is there a lot of mining history, but a lot of railroad history. The city was served by both the Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee Road and the Butte Anaconda & Pacific. The BAP hauled the copper ore from the open pit mine in Butte to the smelter in Anacond, MT where the finished product was made. The BAP is still in operation today running between Butte and Garrison Jct where it connects to the MRL/BNSF. We also pass by the old NP consolidation #25 which is on display that the Butte Civic Center.
Louis - I really enjoy the old trolley and bus photos. Never rode on either when I was growing up. The towns weren't large enough to have bus or trolley service at that time. Many moons ago there was the Gallatin Valley Elactric Railway which provided trolley service, starting in 1892.
Around 1910 the Milwaukee Road bought the operation and passenger service continued south from Bozeman servicing the Bozeman Hot Springs and down to Salesville, present day Gallatin Gateway. In 1927 the Milwaukee Road built the Gallatin Gateway in to service passengers going to Yellowstone Park. In 1930, the wires came down and only freight service used the rails. Around 1974 the grain elevator burned to the ground and that was the end of rail service to the south end of the valley.
Greg - Falling asleep at the end of the movie ??? You must be getting old. I haven't been to a theater on at least 25 years. Like the photo a lot.
Eric - I can understand wanting to down size.. We had thought about that many years ago, but unfortunately the land and house prices has sky rocketed here in out area with all of the newbies moving into the area. The only steps we have to worry are the 7 steps leading to the front door and the ones going to the train room in the basement. We like where we are so those thoughts are now long gone. A basement is the best place for a train layout. Hope you guys can get things figured out.
Greg - Love the Texas Special photos. Sweet!
Willie - I like you am a lone operator and do enjoy switching. With a single track main line, I really can't do much switching except in one of the yards with a train running on the main line. Years ago I had consider DCC, but although I can walk and chew gum at the ame time, I know for sure that I would have a wreck if I ever attempted any switching along the main line.
Joe - I like your description of you layout. I have just about the same area for my layout. I am able though to have some continuous running although my layout for the most part is also point to point, but with the use of a drop down bridge near the door, continuous running can be done. Post some photos of your layout.
Sherrel - I will have to agree with you on the looks of the Super Connie. That is a sharp looking aircraft. Nover got to ride in one but do have a few photos of them on the wall. They do have on on display at the Helena regional airport.
I hope to be able to get down to the train room today and run some trains today. I did look into the room the other day just to make sure they were still there, but never got to run them.
Here's a rail picture for today.
Later