Last time I went past US45 and Hampton, the big “Standard” was still up, but all other Amoco indicia had “turned green”… if I remember correctly… same with the Amoco where I used to work (I-94@7 Mile), all that’s still “Amoco” is the large freeway sign. [:(]
I still have two Amoco stations near my house, within a mile of each other, with no signs of “going green” anytime soon! And I found one in Chicagoland yesterday when I got lost trying to chase MILW 261.
yo jim
don`t get too worked up over the tv shows,holly wood or tv have never been about reality even their documentarys and news shows are suspect.just enjoy them for what they are a diversion,or do what i do let the wife watch and go enjoy your hobbys thats what they are for. roy[soapbox]
I watch the Histroy channel and the news as well as the weather. I have not seen a regular tv show in 4 years. I have no idea what is new or passe’.
The “Hollywood” lives in a world apart by it’s riches and way of life. I dont bother myself with the entertainment world.
In reference to diecast cars, I did purchase a few from ebay which is 1-87 scale. Granted these are expensive. But you gotta start with one good match then another and another.
A friend of mine is taught me how to build signals using radio shack componets, avoids paying 20-30 per signal. That is expensive.
And no trains are not toys except for the less expensive children’s stuff. Once they grow up they will demand better quality stuff as well.
Used to bother me about the negative portayal of both people that worship God and railfans, and even railroaders. After some years I’ve grown to realize that a lot of the stuff on t.v has become pretty trashy or downright silly and that many people with common sense no longer take it seriously. Seems like Hollywood producers and directors are part of a large “wack-job” club.
Have to admit though that the railroaders that invented the term “foamer” didn’t help us much either.
Regardless though, the best thing to do is to be the good, decent person that you are and without feeling embarassed let people know you’re a railfan and that you, like most railfans, are not a retarded slobbering goofball! [:D][8D][swg][tup]
Here’s one I like. On the evening news there’s a story about a pedestrian hit by a train. The dumb fashion news reciter is doing their live report while standing in the middle of the tracks. Then they go on to say how dangerous the railroad is at that location. I called the local newsroom once when a dopey reporter was doing his on-site report from the middle of a main line. The newsroom guy said they like to do that for those type of stories because it gives the report more “impact.” “Impact!” I said. Wait for number 41. You’ll have impact. I explained that this is exactly why people thinks it’s OK to stand there. The newsroom promissed they would get the reporter off the main line. Well the 10 o’clock news came on and there he was. Right in the center of track 1.
Mitch
A late reply to this topic ,but here also in the United Kingdom we are viewed with ridicule and suspiscion!!!(we have a hobby!!!),we are known as anoracks,you know in the 70’s the parker type coat we wore on railway platforms to keep warm even in an english summer these were required!!,the media just does not have a clue!,they put together railway programmes that they think the great british public will easily understand(forget the detail),years ago the BBC made a brilliant series called Great railway journeys combining travel history and the railways that made each of the countries they visited,a really class documentry,we are classed along with model railroaders as a little bit strange ,YET go to any preserved line in the UK or watcth the Challenger in action in the US and see how many hundreds turn out from all walks of life ,but when they return to their work next day very few of us feel free to discuss it with work colleagues in case of being made fun of,i can think of nothing more mind numbing than sitting next to a lake or riverbank waiting for that fi***o bite !!but i appreciate it is that persons hobby or relaxation time every one to their own,hope i haven’t bored you too much greetings to all on trains ,Pete England