a picture a day....

Well, Ted, that is real “realism”. Every small town and big city has them.

FOR TODAY:  Although today is Sunday, there's always work to be done on the railroad.  Ernie and Sylvester, part of the MOW dept., are gathering their tools at this early hour as a logging train passes in the background. Just another day on the railroad.

Ted, great photos and storyline to go with them.

Patrick, I'm an early riser. But man this is really early, it's still Saturday where I am. Lol But I guess the MOW crew needs to take it's time to make sure they have everything.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

It looks like things are getting as hot as the July weather'  around here tonight'...

Ted, as always, nice detail, and the signage is great too...

On most Saturday nights, "negotiations" and "discussions" begin at dusk behind the Gemini Hotel, across from the bus station...on a busy weekend night when the weather is good, activity may be ongoing until the wee hours of the morning...

What happens when you plant corn near the cow pasture...

FOR TODAY:  The County Fair started over the weekend!  The hot air balloon ride was really boss!!  Here are a few pics as we flew over Patsburg and surrounding area.  

We saw this passenger train as we ascended just after takeoff.  

Patsburg sure looks a lot different from way up here!

Lookin down on Amos McCoy's farm.  Looks like Amos is driving his tractor and his wife Irma is perhaps feeding the hogs.

Spectacular view Patrick. I am sure we are all wondering how you got the pictures? You must have been hanging from the rafters.

Just outside of Worcester, MA from my brother's collection...

Took these over the last few days...

Photos from years past at Strasburg.

@p51 posted:

Took these over the last few days...

  Nice work Lee'.. some very good pics of the real thing'...Thanks for taking the time to post the many photos'..👍😁

@p51 posted:

Took these over the last few days...

Lee, that is quite a variety of engines you photographed.  Can you tell us something about this?  I have never seen anything like it, and have no idea what it is.

P51, Lee, Awesome pictures, your at the right place at the right time and it’s a Wow, alll of these real trains are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us. Union Pacific, BNSF, Amtrak, others, all looking fantastic. I bet the ground was shaking… Happy Railroading Everyone

Great pictures! Never gets old does it?

@Mark Boyce posted:

Lee, that is quite a variety of engines you photographed.  Can you tell us something about this?  I have never seen anything like it, and have no idea what it is.

Mark,

That's the new control car for the Amtrak Cascades. Local foamers call them "Mater," or "Elvis."

There's a Siemens Charger loco on the other end in the same paint job.

Lee, I have heard of the Siemens Charger, but didn’t know it has a control car on the end of the train.  Thank you!

Mark, that control car is not limited to the Siemens Charger and is not built by Siemens.  It's a Talgo control car, and can control any locomotive at the opposite end of the train.

Tom, thank you very much.  It's all new to me. 

FOR TODAY:  Very early this morning.  

I Caught an Amtrak heritage unit yesterday, at the summit of Napavine Hill near Winlock, WA:

Morning shots are terrific, Patrick!

Artie

Today:

@p51 posted:

Today:

Makes me want to collect more UP.

Excellent photographs again, Lee!

FOR TODAY: This photo, snapped by a hiker early this morning, is of a train known to most of the  locals as "The Paul Bunyan".   Other local folks call it "The Mighty Logger."  Either way the name is a tribute to the Canadian folklore logging hero Paul Bunyan.  Word has it that for a short while Mr. Bunyan worked in the logging industry that surrounds Patsburg.  That man sure could swing an axe!  

@Mark Boyce posted:

Excellent photographs again, Lee!

Thanks, Mark!

The caboose and flat car shots are at the tourist railroad I run on as a brakeman.

Trumptrain, beautiful picture and Paul Bunyan was a real Logging man, a hero in his day, I’m sure Patsburg was thrilled to have his presence in their lumber yard. Today, it’s the Texas Special on top and other trains on the lower levels. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry - thanks for the kind words and setting me straight regarding  Paul Bunyan.  I wasn't sure if he was a real person or a fictional folklore character.

Great photos and wonderful video of your layout!  Got to love those Santa Fe Warbonnet diesels!!

Pat, now we need to know if Babe the blue ox is lurking around those upper woods.

Larry, so it looks like you are running all red today!  Very nice trains!

@leapinlarry posted:

Trumptrain, beautiful picture and Paul Bunyan was a real Logging man, a hero in his day, I’m sure Patsburg was thrilled to have his presence in their lumber yard. Today, it’s the Texas Special on top and other trains on the lower levels. Happy Railroading Everyone

Beautiful display Larry'... You have those trains running at the exact correct speed'...  How many can you operate at the same time'...?  BTW- the advertisement signs add to the enjoyment of the viewer'...😁👍✔

@leapinlarry posted:

Trumptrain, beautiful picture and Paul Bunyan was a real Logging man, a hero in his day, I’m sure Patsburg was thrilled to have his presence in their lumber yard. Today, it’s the Texas Special on top and other trains on the lower levels. Happy Railroading Everyone

Great shots of your amazing layout, as always, Larry. But the pic of the QJ subway brought back so many memories. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and rode the QJ on the Brighton Line so many times (usually to and from Manhattan). Thanks for sharing.

@leapinlarry posted:

Trumptrain, beautiful picture and Paul Bunyan was a real Logging man, a hero in his day, I’m sure Patsburg was thrilled to have his presence in their lumber yard. Today, it’s the Texas Special on top and other trains on the lower levels. Happy Railroading Everyone

Fabulous, Larry, you have a very interesting and stunning layout, trains and train room. Arnold

FOR TODAY:  "Revisiting Postwar Ponies!"

FOR TODAY:  Chucky is back on his bike and plans to spend  another day down at the railroad tracks.  He loves to be there when the short line locomotives show up.  Today is his lucky day because he's riding alongside a Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000.  On the far track a  MA&PA SW 1 idles away awaiting it's next assignment.  Chucky might be able to double his luck today because Kay C. Jones, "The Mighty Hogger", as he's known to his fellow railroad comrades, is at the throttle of the P&BR VO1000.  Kay C. has invited Chucky to ride along in the cab many times in the past.  He even lets Chucky blow the horn at grade crossings!  Lets hope Chucky gets double lucky today.

@trumptrain posted:

FOR TODAY:  Chucky is back on his bike and plans to spend  another day down at the railroad tracks.  He loves to be there when the short line locomotives show up.  Today is his lucky day because he's riding alongside a Patapsco and Back Rivers VO1000.  On the far track a  MA&PA SW 1 idles away awaiting it's next assignment.  Chucky might be able to double his luck today because Kay C. Jones, "The Mighty Hogger", as he's known to his fellow railroad comrades, is at the throttle of the P&BR VO1000.  Kay C. has invited Chucky to ride along in the cab many times in the past.  He even lets Chucky blow the horn at grade crossings!  Lets hope Chucky gets double lucky today.

Wow, Chucky is going to have a great day today'... I wish I could trade places with him'....😃...  Great scenario Pat'... ✔👍

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Wow, Chucky is going to have a great day today'... I wish I could trade places with him'....😃...  Great scenario Pat'... ✔👍

Thanks Ted!  I agree.  I would like to trade places with Chucky today as well.

Yes, Chucky has it all.  When I road my bike to the B&O mainline, it was exciting to see a big freight storm downhill or strain uphill with the crew waiving from both the cab and caboose, but it would be so cool to see what Chucky sees!

With heaving summer traffic leading to more accidents at the intersection, the powers to be decided to station an ambulance at the corner of North Main and Main...

FOR TODAY:  A coal drag through Patsburg early Saturday morning.  R 16 Shark nose demonstrators on the point.