Thursday Night Round Robin

696 Oil Trains

2012-02-09T16:36:00.000-05:00

Like I was telling you...I chased this train from Rouses Point all the way to Kenwood and these are the only pics I got. February 3, 2012

Brad Peterson

CP 7310 waits near Coons Crossing near Mechanicville. A relic from the B&M days of the hump yard still stands tall.

Rob Dennis is the conductor on a empty ethanol train at Ushers Road in Halfmoon, NY.

Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show 2012

2012-02-08T16:12:00.001-05:00

Tina and I went early Saturday morning to the show, had a great time found a few deals. I love the sights and sounds of this show, the best train show I have ever been to. Sent along a few photos...over 22,000 people this year a record! Rob D

The newly tooled Athearn Trains Genesis HO scale Electro- Motive Division GP38-2.

HO “Executive Line” MLW C-630M Locomotives from Bowser.

Athearn Genesis GP-9's in B&M "Sweet!"

XO Tower from our friends at CH&R Structures .

Had lunch with Armand at Plamer at the Steam & Tender it was awesome!

2011 Holiday Train

2011-11-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

Shot on Rogers Island in Fort Edward, NY on November 26, 2011 at 04:17 with the 5D and Zeiss ZF 28/2 lens set at f2.

Down the tangent track comes the Holiday Train, then..........9624 clears the marsh, and the perfect reflection pops out! Holy Cow! Elwyn and I watch, transfixed at the sight as the lit up train consist continues to be revealed while 9624 progresses toward me. Only now do I get behind the camera, find my mark, and watch 9624 in............the flashes, on full power, silently fire, the resulting light on the scene reflects back, enabling the image to be captured! Wow! This image gives you the viewer a good feel for what it is like following along in the car with the Holiday Train as it cruises along Lake Champlain. Shot on November 26, 2011 at 02:10 with the 5D and Zeiss 35/2 lens set at f2.

We visit Port Henry, NY tonight on Canadian Pacifics Canadian Main Line, originally the Delaware and Hudson. This pair of night photos depicts the scene six years apart as the Holiday Train makes its annual visit. In the earlier photo from 2005 TWO decorated trains are featured! The RS-18 (ex-CP 1801) was donated by CP for the display train commemorating home town iron ore railroad Lake Champlain & Moria, which interchanged here with the D&H. Judge Brian Venne, who painted and decorated the locomotiveand train w/christmas lights, told me of the time he was directly involved with CP in obtaining a donated engine for the display train: they had talked with the proper people and in time word came back that their request had been approved! Brians group was asked by CP what engine did they have in mind, in so many words. They asked for (as most of us would have.....) the...........8921! In a few days the request came back...........approved! The 8921, for out of towners, was Canada’s only MLW RSD-17 model, and very popular with railroaders and fans! The 8921 made it as far as Rouses Point, NY before someone at CP noticed the 8921 had disappeared. This is how it came to be when the 8921 spent the day in Rouses Point of all places! Brian tells me the historic engine was quickly retrieved back across the border and CP inquired if there might be another locomotive the group would like! LOL! The night photo from 2005 shows a big turnout, probably eight hundred people or more. You can see my spot I would shoot from six years later in front of the engineers window of the RS-18. Switching to last nights view from 2011, what a change!Proving that “owls” come out during the day, in a rare daytime move for me, I drove over here, appearing at 4 pm for the 5:30 Holiday Train! After unloading the lights from the Civic parked beside the display train, Judge Venne, who did’nt recognize me, pointed at me and said........”You.......the cars gotta go!” I complied, keeping a straight face, then asked for permission to shoot from the RS-18 of Judge Venne, he then recognized me and gave me the okay. With the lights set up and tested, I watched as the scene was nearly empty of people at 4:45, then hundreds walked in! Wow! What a scene was before me! A steady stream of parents brought their little kids over to climb up on “the engine” as I looked on, trying to appear unconcerned. What can go wrong!? The organizers of this event provide a couple campfires each year to help people keep warm, that is the smoke seen wafting above the crowd. It is usually a fine idea, but this year it is 54 degrees at train time! Unheard of for late November. You can see the people are dressed lightly in the 2011 scene versus the 2005 scene. Suddenly I noticed lots of cars stopped up on the road beyond the station to the right, in a couple minutes an air horn is heard as the 9824 whistles for the crossing just to the south, and the Holiday Train comes creeping up around the curve past adoring onlookers at the station. For my part, I was singing to myself “Row,row,row your boat. Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily. Life, is but, a dream!” Ha,ha,ha! There’s little kids at my feet, kids behind me on the long hood! LOL! I was concentrating on the 9824 as it neared my spot, not noticing the young couple walking into the bottom center of the 28mm view with their kids. Just before the 9824 reaches my spot, the little boy waves! You could’nt make this up! For my part, I never noticed the kid waving until I was back at the computer inside the compound! LOL! The Holiday Train had captured my admiration. What an improvement over the six years in the decorations! This years train just glows! Also, ALL the lights are still working this far north, unlike years past! The lights that appear to be off in the photo are really blinking. You can spot the engineer inside the cab looking straight ahead, responding to placement commands from (hopefully only one) person to spot the “stage car” before the crowd. With the train stopped, a rock group performed christmas songs for the crowd, CP personnel appeared with a check from the area for the Holiday Train, more christmas songs as Santa himself joined the festivities on stage, Mrs. Claus rode the deadhead move south but we did’nt see her tonight, then the band said goodbye with the drummer up front singing Silent Night solo. All the while I was shooting with a 35mm from this spot. What a superb scene as Port Henry station hosts the town and the Holiday Train! Yes indeed, capturing this scene was worth getting up on three hours sleep, (of course...........I was out late shooting last night on the NECR......) skipping breakfast, but making two thermoses of dark tea, and driving with the many VIPs out on the highway. LOL! Shot in Port Henry, NY on December 2, 2005 at 6:57 pm(9714) and November 28, 2011 at 5:34 pm (9824) both with the 5D, the 9824 photo was taken with the Zeiss ZF 28/2 lens set at f2. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary Knapp

Beltrami Enterprises

2011-11-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

I haven't done one of these since August 1st! It's really only in the last couple weeks that I've gotten back to do a little modeling. Thanks to Irene and Lee I've been "enjoying" outdoor mode since Aug 28th.

Some of you are wondering what this is all about? If you're new, it's because you're new to my contacts list. If you received other chapters only sporadically, it's because you responded to earlier emails sporadically. I misplaced my original list of who I've been sending these to so Chap. 9 is a restart...
The idea of sending the "Chapters" began when I was getting progress reports from Mike Confalone, Randy Laframboise, Jim Dufour and Mike Rose as they were making progress several linear feet at a time on their layouts. My progress is in inches, hence.....

This little scene was inspired by the "office" at the stone quarry in Gunnison, CO. It's named Quinn's Quarry for my oldest grand-daughter. I started picking at the models that are in the scene back in July when I did the trailer using one by CMW as a beginning point. The VW camper bus was next. This required major rebuilding to the VW Samba bus by High Speed. The prototype is the one my daughter and son-in-law still use. Notice the National Parks stickers on the rear. The third piece was the Portable. That model came back from the NMRA National in CA, thanks to Blair Davies sharp eye. Finally I built up the little bits of detritus for the front of the storage/office trailer yesterday AM. I'm using the model in an era change to my Wanamie Mine scene of the 50's. I (temporarilty) removed the loading conveyor from my 50's scenario. That's the structure that transfers coal from the narrow gauge 4 and 6 ton mine jimmies to standard gauge 50T twins. The new model scene represents the area after the narrow gauge operation shut down in 1968 and the property was taken over by Beltrami Enterprises (a strip mining operation). As with the entire layout everything is interchangable as to railroad depicted and era represented.

Regards to you all,

Wayne Sittner

Fall on the Battenkill!

2011-11-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time there was foliage on the trees
Enjoy!!

Cully

Dirty Dirt and the Dome

2011-11-16T15:02:00.001-05:00

On October 13, 2011, D&H train 629 with 57 empty dirt gons with CSX 116 and 7320 waiting on the siding at CPC33 for Amtrak train 69 with the 145 and dome car in tow passing 629 at track speed headed to Saratoga.

Amtrak 145 and CSX 116 side by side at Saratoga.

My conductor Robert Gould pops his head out for a look at all the commotion.

Enjoy, Brad!

Summer's End...

2011-10-12T00:05:00.000-04:00

UP power on 629 in Fort Edward waiting to bring a loaded sludge train to Selkirk.

All Vermont Railway power on a detour train in Elnora.

VTR detour in Whitehall waiting for a crew. We ran the trains as 690/691, Whitehall to Elnora and back and interchanged trains with Pan Am. 9/15/11.

John Camerota caught Pan Am's MOED heading east across the Hudson River.

Enjoy, Rob D

Saratoga and North Creek "Hudson Express"

2011-10-11T23:31:00.001-04:00

Two photos fresh from the camera taken less than eight hours ago at the time I wite this. I have to confess, I went out stalking last night. Stalking an E8! Ha,ha,ha! The AZER 6070 was working the Saratoga and North Creek "Hudson Express" which departs from Saratoga in darkness at 9:30 pm for North Creek. This is a friday only night run. I am grateful! My original location planned for tonight was the bridge at Hadley, NY and I arrived there with plenty of time to set up inspite of doing some wandering around town lost. I have to expect this when I arrive at a new location after dark. After driving around the bridge and then getting out and going for a walk across the one lane historic highway bridge alongside the railroad bridge, it became apparent to me............I was screwed! LOL! Almost getting run down on the narrow highway bridge had nothing to do with my conclusion. Sheesh! So I headed back north (after heading south to Cornish, NY by mistake) going out Rte. 9N to Lake George and up I87 to the Riparius exit. I found Lake George (around the I87 ramps) to be an embarrassing display of glitz. I ate my Veggie-Delite on the way in there at the busy intersection of Rte. 9L & 9N, with some kind of kids fun park lit up behind me, rv's going by disguised as full sized buses amid the heavy traffic and eating establishments trying to outdo each other in attracting your attention. Happily I avoided that area returning from Hadley by jumping on the interstate. I remembered the Riparius exit and after stopping a couple times to check my Delorme Atlas I was crossing the large bridge over the Hudson and had arrived at the station. To be honest, I was thinking I would be hard pressed to find a different, better spot to shoot here after wandering around last friday night. And I had prety much given up after driving down to eyeball the old freight shed, and was driving out to head for North Creek station when the caboose caught my eye as I drove past. At this point it's 10:30 pm, the train is due in an hour roughly and I pay attention to any indication there might be a photo here! Stopping, I back up the civic and step out to check out the caboose. The steps onto the rear platform have a chain across them attached to a ring by a latch, easily operable. No signs that say no trespassing, and the platform provides the always desirable elevation..............I undo the latch and go up the steps! I take a look........Oh My Gawd! Oh My Gawd! I turned and stepped down onto the ground, turned off the car and started setting up the lights! All set up forty five minutes later, it was tea time at Riparius, as there was no sign of the Hudson Express. That was fine with me, as I was sure they had not gotten by me. Up in the woods across the street to the right of the scene a deer was snorting at me, impatiently waiting for me to leave so it could come down to the river for a drink. You see, deer are wary and shy for a good reason, moose on the other hand, are not! A moose would just barge straight through enroute to the river no problem. Just before midnight the familiar sound of non-turbocharged 567s accompanied by the sight of the rotating roof top beacon reached me, and shortly afterwards the "Hudson Explorer" pulled in to a stop. The AZER 6070 stopped maybe twenty feet short of my mark, what a sight this engine presents at night! I waited for engineer Tom Carver to issue two short whistle blasts before he started moving towards me, eventually rolling into position as I crouched behind the camera. The flash lighting captures the moment as Tom passes by in the cab of 6070! The image on the lcd monitor presents evidence of another successful friday night on the Saratoga and North Creek! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself doing night photos of an ex-Chicago & North Western E8 wearing the Southern Pacific "Black Widow" paint scheme! Bring on the PA's! Ha,ha,ha! Afterwards I wandered around the manicured grounds along the nearby Hudson, not wanting to give up my seat on "cloud nine" don't you know! And I found an excuse to stay on board by shooting the second attached photo of a historical plaque commemorating the history of the location the current bridge occupies. It may be of interest to you. Shot in Riparius/Riverside, NY on September 3, 2011 at 00:07 with the 5D and Nikkor 14-24/2.8 lens set at 24mm and f2.8. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary

Amtraks 40th Anniversary

2011-09-02T00:27:00.000-04:00

Amtraks 40th Anniversary exhibit train visited Vermont over the three day weekend. Coming and going over the New England Central. Arriving a day earlier than scheduled on Thursday night behind a Genesis engine, I was, of course........gone. Up camping along the SLR, confident on returning Friday night to shoot the train! Railroads, by their nature, make liars out of all of us railfans from time to time, in a helpless sort of way! Ha,ha,ha! SO when I read of the trains scheduled departure on Sunday night, involved backing up the eight or more miles from Burlington to the NECR main in Essex Jct. I monitored the NECR channel from the compound to see if they would actually do that! A quick check on the weather further south showed serious storm warnings, hail, high winds, etc. What a surprise? I was happy sitting this move with a Genesis engine out. Lo and behold, the crew calls the dispatcher for clearance to Essex Jct. with the F40 406 leading! They ran the power around the train somewhere. So I'm thinking, Holy Cow!, surely the crew will take the time to use the wye in Essex Jct. to turn the train and lead with the Genesis engine? Apparently, the dispatcher thought the same thing, as he had the signal on the north leg of the wye lined for them to use. Arriving in Essex Jct., the crew explained to the dispatcher they would like to go right out the south leg of the wye and onto the main, heading south with the 406 leading! Now it's confirmed! They are leading with the 406, oh my gawd! I'm on my way out to the Civic with the backpacks full of flashes. To me, this is the way they should operate this train, with the locomotive that saved Amtrak, EMDs F40 leading. But, no matter, at least they are doing it tonight. So I drive down to Randolph and no sooner position the lights before a heavy rain shower comes along, thankfully ending a few minutes later. My position to shoot from is up in the tree branches atop the stepladder, a place where the slightest movement generates a shower of water! LOL! My golf-size umbrella from La Grange proves to be a problem on its own here as I can't quite get it over the camera without snaring branches thus defeating itself, ha,ha,ha! The rain stops and I try a test exposure, the lcd monitor stays black! I try three more black exposures before I conceed although its not the lens or camera, maybe I have a problem with the lights. After a few minutes of replacing connecting cables and pocket wizards I'm getting an image of the coal shed on the lcd monitor, and with a few more adjustments the lighting falls into place. It must have been the humid air, because I never heard Amtrak blowing for any crossings north of town, suddenly, they are at the crossing maybe half a mile above me. I had been standing atop the stepladder for several minutes and was ready. Once the lighting was working, I was not going to touch a thing! Especially after all that rain. As the headlight glow got stonger, I was thinking this may be the last F40 I cross paths with. And........it's freshly painted, spotless! Rolling slowly past caught in a flash of light, the 406 completes this favorite Vermont scene. The trains you see at night! SHot on August 21, 2011 at 22:26 with a wet 5D and Nikkor 14-24/2.8 lens set at f2.8. A lens that has developed a "cult" following among Canon full frame camera users for its high quality! Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary Knapp

Lee's D&H Update

2011-09-02T00:24:00.001-04:00

A few pics as to progress or lack of on my pike. Things got delayed due to building a new workbench and putting down some laminate floor under the new work area. Removal of the old Hadley section ( where the bench is now) and re doing the end of the line took a longer amount of time than anticipated. So for what it's worth here are the pictures.

Enjoy, Lee Schamberger

"The Gulliver Effect"

2011-08-14T17:50:00.000-04:00

This chapter just has to be titled "The Gulliver Effect". Up to this point my "Chapters" have been based on detailing the R.O.W. and other scenic elements. This one may seem a little different but, it's really not. On our layouts the people are actually just scenery. They're inanimate unlike our trains and mute unlike the sound systems most have. Gotta have people though and to make them look like they actually represent someone and are doing something, well why not? Making them unique to our layouts, even better. You guys are all top shelf modelers it should be easy. Get out the Optivisor, #11 XActo and filler. Oh yea, tweezers and imagination.

I admit to developing some imagination for this and skill in the use of the tools and materials as long ago as the 70's. I had quite a long lasting adventure building up Historex kits in 54mm to represent all the regiments of French cavalry during the Napoleonic era. This amounted to over 100 figures that came at "Present Arms" and needed animation into more interesting and realistic poses. You do know the advantages of checking out other modeling areas like the automobile, aircraft, ship and military venues?
The workers I'm sending as examples are ones many of you have seen in previous emailed layout photos or saw when visiting but, maybe there are a few new "guys":
These figures represent Me with railfan companions of the 80's Doug Lezette and Bob Dennis. I had to make the cameras and camera bags, change the position of the arms bit. Rob on his bike is straight Preiser.

Me in my typical Levi's, CPO jacket, O&W cap, Al wearing his gray jacket and brown pants and my Dad with his driver's cap and Mal Houck bow tie. See 1834 re. cameras etc.

My Father-in-law who worked as a dispatcher for Lehigh Cement in Cementon. Remove the original brim hat and in it's place add a hard hat made from epoxy resin cast in a clay press mold and reposition a reaching arm.

"Hobo catching out" This pose was inspired by a photo Jeff Brouws shared in a NRHS Bulletin article. The original was taken in the 60's by Michael Mathers. There was a lot of arm and leg repositioning in addition to bending the upper body forward by slicing a chunk out of the abdomen. I gave him a blanket roll and wicker valise too.

Adjusting a side view mirror accomplished by extending the reaching arm.

"Break time at the cement plant" No Mods, just grouping figures appropriately.

I worked with only Preiser styrene figures. They have the best proportions of all model figures (in my estimation.)

In the future I intend to talk vehicles but, don't hold your breath. Hope you enjoy and can use some of this,

Wayne Sittner

One Evening Project

2011-07-25T00:57:00.001-04:00

This installment might have made a great "One Evening Project" for MR years ago. In all honesty, it didn't take much longer. I've been gradually filling in my engine house area with typical piles of (correct) random stuff (re: Chap 4 "Racks"). I've taken many slides at engine houses over the years of this type but, the pictures I got in Milford on the CACV last week were perfect for my prototype inspiration.

Everything you see modeled was made from materials I had on on hand: The bin, pallet and brake shoes were built up, of course. The coupler knuckles are old Varney; still oversize but, they look like they belong given the size of Kadee's.

Hope you all enjoy.

Wayne Sittner

Colors

2011-07-25T00:47:00.000-04:00

The night of May 21 found me back in West Brownsville on Main St., lighting all set up, and doin' my thing, waitin' for a train. After spending four hours at a photogenic location and listening to Coast To Coast AM on the radio, I thought a move was in order, and relocated to the top of the street around the church again to catch the jobs I had witnessed the past two nights. Unfortunately for me, I failed to consult with the dispatcher on this move, and instead of shooting trains passing the church, or my original spot, got to watch, as inbound loads came past me. Ha,ha,ha! With CSX power. A later opportunity with CSX at the church became so fogged in the headlight glare was overwhelming. As dawn arrived my intuition proclaimed that "maybe" it was time to move on, at least for now. And I agreed, knowing the dangers of becoming attached to a location and getting "the shot", at the expense of time spent elsewhere. After all, this street running trackage, for all its attractions, was not the only game in town! The PA. State Park I had been cornered into camping at, Ohiopyle, was nicely located halfway between West Brownsville and Mance Curve on Sand Patch! What could be better, than a Saturday evening on Sand Patch at the Mance Post Office? Driving in from the Subway at Meyersdale that evening I was listening via the car scanner as the dispatcher inquired of the Connellsville helper crew how much longer they were available. It seemed there were several eastbounds coming up the west side that had power problems, or were over tonnage or late running. The helper conductor replied they were good until........(I forget the time given) hours, and obviously pleased with this news, remarked how there always seemed to be work for them to do. The dispatcher was pleased with this news of their availability, humorously agreeing with their appraisal of the situation, and started lining up a couple trains down the west side of Sand Patch to stop for the helper. Also pleased with this news was Gary! As I had planned on setting up to shoot eastbounds going past the Mance P. O.! Two years ago when I visited this spot ahead of Memorial Day weekend, I saw very little traffic at night. Tonight, two eastbounds come by in the gathering dusk as I'm enjoying my Veggie-Delite on the picnic table. Owner Dave Snyder told me whenever I'm visiting to make myself at home, and I will, thank you Dave! Having shot from the porch before here, the lighting goes up quickly in the dark. And when I say dark, I mean DARK! Not a light to be seen anywhere. The double track main line off to the right is a ghostly image at best. Three eastbounds come by one hour apart, from 22:30 on, then a lull for two and a half hours with only a couple westbounds coming by on track one. The space of time with no eastbound trains leaves me wondering.......was that it? LOL! The longer the time goes on, the better my chances for another eastbound. Then it happens! The scanner erupts as a westbound is calling out the next signal below me, quickly followed by an eastbound identifying his train symbol then......... "green at Manila with 4082" then silence! "Manila" is just outside the east portal of Sand Patch Tunnel, maybe a mile away upgrade. Quickly in position behind the 5D, the w.b. train climbing toward me can be heard clearly, I do a test flash to make sure all is well with the lights. It is now I stop and ask myself.............4082?......4082? What the heck is that? I don't believe the rebuilt SD 40-2s CSX is doing in the 4000 series run up this far in the numbering system yet. We will find out shortly I conclude! From my camera position I can step back and look 90 degrees to the left as the westbounds headlights appear in the dark rounding Mance Curve, making short work of Sand Patch with a lighter than normal train of containers! They pass by at track speed, leaving me waiting, watching.........outside the porch its pitch black, the shadowy containers keep going by on the far track. Finally headlights glint off the passing containers, I fire off an awareness flash for the crew and settle into a crouch behind the camera. Headlights appear and I don't hear a thing until the cab is nearly in position, then with a flash watching through the lens, the image is captured, reflecting for a split second back through the lens...........red/yellow, KCS colors! Instictively I jerk my head up to look, at headlights passing by in the darkness! LOL! Then returning to the image, Kansas City Southern SD 70-2s! At Mance! A first for me shooting this paint scheme! Remember my past remark about departing Lawrenceburg, Indiana after two days and not staying a third, and how it would prove to be a beneficial decision? Here at the Mance P. O. several nights later, I reap the rewards of that decision! The traveling flag even frames the Kansas City Southern spelled out on the hood. Not bad timing with the 5D shutter in pitch darkness! After capturing this image, it was time to sit and have some tea in gratitude at Mance for Gary! What a location to catch this power in! Shot on May 22, 2011 at Mance, Pennsylvania with the 5D and Nikkor 14-24/2.8 lens set at 14mm and f2.8. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary

The Corner Store

2011-07-15T10:19:00.000-04:00

We are on the corner of East Main St. and South Walnut Ave. in La Grange........its early Saturday morning. This view has been a favorite of mine since my first visit four or five years back when I set up here after arriving and what do you suppose came by that night? An SD 40-2 leading! Holy Cow! Tonights power is more modern looking, another C40-8W, the 7781 with its wide cab and dark paint scheme add to the mysterious setting. The brick house with columns up the street is ex-Mayor Elsie Carters home. I wait and wait here tonight after moving the lighting, step ladder and traveling flag down the street from the far corner where I shot the 7817 passing the 1887 Corner Store. My patience is rewarded when 7781 comes up the street with a northbound after six a.m.! This is cutting it close, as you can notice the sky getting bluer! To capture these two views little more than three hours apart leaves me ecstatic. For me, it dose'nt get much better than this, and I conclude, thinking to myself...........yeah, I guess I can head back to the campsite now. Only eight miles away, it compliments the aura surrounding La Grange to me, by being the best campsite I enjoyed during the trip. SHot on May 14, 2011 at 06:06 in La Grange, Kentucky with the 5D and Zeiss ZF 35/2 lens set at f2. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary

July Train Day

2011-07-15T10:15:00.000-04:00

Me and Timothy Towle working on grading the roadbed at Meghans crossing.

The short bridge all decked and ready to be installed. We just need to sink some pilings and retaining walls.

Rick Towle, his son Timothy and Bill Bibby visiting at the end of track. We got a few more feet of track built a little later when Bill asked how I go about getting the rail to curve, how I get the right gauge, how I figure tie spacing and how to line up the ties crosswise.

Leased GE 70 ton switcher (temp SAR #1) in the Mechanicville engine terminal before heading to the Round Lake Paper Mill to work as a plant switcher.

B&M 309 working the north end of Mechanicville yard with 37 coming up the main to DB cabin.

MBTA 1012 pullung #37 the Adirondack through XO.

Enjoy, Brad Peterson

FE tower

2011-07-13T14:38:00.000-04:00

I don't have a FA Tower but I have a FE.

Jim LaFayette

Still Some Pride Left.....

2011-07-11T19:10:00.000-04:00

The Saratoga Car Dept used to have a full time staff 24 hours a day, but that was before CP Rail cuts. Now just a few men left for running repairs. D&H 35799 is SC-1's caboose in Kenwood, it was sent to Saratoga for inspection and to fix the stove for the coming winter. Looks like the boys got the paint out and did what they could for an old friend. The script is a vinyl decal.

Rob D

Old Railroad Men

2011-07-03T22:33:00.000-04:00

Larry LaFarr engineer (deceased), Roland Gebo, clerk (deceased), Jimmy Martucci, Yard Cond (ret), Me (ret), Dave Gosselin trainman (quit), Mark Terry trainman (quit now prison guard, Ron Guard Trainman (now engineer)

Going by the ex Long Island Alco and long sleve shirts, I'd say it was fall of 1977 in Fort Edward.

Jim Lafayette

Nielsen Ready Mix

2011-07-03T22:30:00.000-04:00

The prototype for my next addition to the layout: The ruins of the Nielsen Ready Mix Concrete plant. (Kingston/Town of Ulster, NY) I remember when this was a going concern but, that had to be over 30 years ago. It was neat then but, still picturesque. I real challenge to model in this state. I've done the drawings and have started to cast plaster sections for the walls. (ten pieces per pour in three sizes) It seemed a logical modeling technique since the original buildings followed that construction approach using form cast concrete. Getting the colors, the staining, overburden and overgrowth is intimidating.

It actually took a couple days to assenble the 45 to 50 castings I made. I couldn't help thinking it was like building with one of the block sets I had in my childhood. All came out OK and today I got an initial coating of acrylic stain mixed and worked in. Next come the styrene details I want to add and the work on the setting. I'm feeling pretty confident now that it will turn out.

The old trailer started as a CMW. I altered it to look like one that was used for storage at a quarry I frequent when visiting in CO. Figured it'd be a nice scenic accessory at the concrete plant.

I got the area of the bins finished for scenery. I made it removable from the layour but, it blends in well. There are still a lot of details in sah-reen mthat need to be added to the other section. No question anymore about whether I'm modeling it as a ruin. For those who were corious about the plastaar castings I made, here are a few leftovers. The sizes I made were: 6X20X2', 7X20X2' and 7X25X2' (HO).

Thanks for bearing with me and sharing your comments throughout this project. Living in "Waterworld" for the past few days gave me the time and inclination to paint and install the background. Because the area around the plant was so overgrown when I was researching, I couldn't get any overall shots of the setting. The background is done from memory but, I assure you, it's pretty close.

Have a great weekend,

Wayne Sittner

ALCO Plant Going Going....

2011-07-03T15:44:00.000-04:00

The former ALCO Locomotive Works in Schenectady in the process of being taken down.

Bill Kozel

A Day Amsterdam

2011-07-03T15:38:00.000-04:00

Long ago we used to railfan out in Amsterdam and eat at Russo's, Armand found an oldy, but a goody!

Phoebe Heise, Richard Heise, Richard Heise II, Richard's Friend, Armand Choiniere, Justin Couture, Rob Dennis and Bill Ensinger

Sunny Monday

2011-07-03T15:28:00.001-04:00

Last Monday I Spent most of the day working on the yard. Nice day to do it as it wasn't to hot. Around 11:00 I ran down to the post office to pick up some packages and shoot the breeze with co-workers from the park. Before exiting #4211's cab I could hear the North End Dispatcher giving #252 with a SOO leader permission onto the siding at 35. Ah ha! So I went home and finished up the lawn and went down to Delanson around 4:00 to check the signals at CPF 499. If there lit then there is a southbound coming from Mohawk Yard in Glenville. They were..So I decided to relocate to Gage Road and by 6:30 I could hear the distinctive horn of a SOO unit blowing for Cole Road north of me. Around that same time Northbound counterpart #253 could be heard also blowing for Youngs Road south of me. For a second I thought I was going to get skunked but with a 10 MPH speed restriction for the Controlled Siding I figured I would be okay otherwise I might be blocked by the NB passing the SB. Luckily #252 showed first and was on the Main. The Dispatcher held them short of Gage Road so the #253 could pass. With a long train you can block Youngs Road if you hold a Southbound at CPF 503. ("Correct me if I am wrong Rob"). After I grabbed #252 I decided to relocate to Central Bridge. After about a 20 min wait #252 came through on a 10 MPH speed restriction for work being done by the Schoharie Creek bridge. After #252 passed I called it quits and headed home.

Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY

Old D&H Photos

2011-06-09T15:04:00.001-04:00

D&H slides I'm sending to Mike Confalone for a book he may publish. These were samples I sent to see if he liked what I was thinking of including on a CD. Coverage in Pennsylvania is apparently sparse and I've got a bit. These are all from the Hudson Yards by Wilkes-Barre. (1980-83) Maybe you'll enjoy them.

Wayne Sittner

Pan Am OCS

2011-06-09T14:57:00.000-04:00

Pan Am ran an OCS from Ayer over to Mechanicville today for a tour of the West End and work progress at the new yard being built in Mechanicville. This was the first time for me to see the F's in operation. Last time I went looking for them I got skunked at Pownal, VT by being twenty minutes late, I showed up this time with only minuets to spare. These things were flying when they passed. I haven't shot here in years and I am going to make it a point to do it more often. It was nice to sneak out from our business for a break today.

Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY

Trains & BBQ

2011-06-09T14:54:00.001-04:00

Had to make a run down to Oneonta Saturday afternoon for the Annual LRHS Banquet (Cooperstown Railway Folks). Before I left the shop the phone rang with a hot tip from a friend about a northbound heading out of Binghamton that had Standard Cab leading instead of the normal beat to hell GE's that were accustomed to seeing around here. You guys at CSX think your power is filthy CP has CSX beat any day in that department. There power is just Gross. After gratefully thanking the person that tipped me off. I headed out the door and down I-88. I arrived at a location just outside of Oneonta that was also conveniently close to Brooks where the Banquet was being held. After a three and half our wait train #253 came north a 10 MPH clip (See Attachment) Its been one of those shots that I have been trying to do for awhile. I have always been fascinated with the D&H between Binghamton and Schenectady. Neat towns. Cool Scenery all within a close vicinity of my home. This shot has always been a favorite since I first discovered this area riding on the back of my fathers motorcycle. Back in the early 90's during the fall my father would lead about fifty fellow motorcyclists from our business in Colonie down to Fly Creek and then around Cooperstown with eventual arrival at Brooks and then the ride home. We always would ride along Route 7. Some of the scenes have changed. The trains are different. Newer signals have been installed leaving the old masts to just rot, Just think these old masts have been in the place probably since 1900's. Some have moved, some are in there same place. They have had everything from Semaphore Blades that were controlled by towers only to be replaced with Searchlight style lights controlled by CTC control in Albany and I think Oneonta but I might be wrong to now be removed or upstaged by new signals and new masts completely. But the area still has its charm and classic rural ness and that is what matters to me.

Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY