Thats a great video thanks i have to agree with York on that.
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I think you’re selling yourself short, John.
Cheers, the Bear. 
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Funny how we beat ourselves up on our mistakes we make.
Funny how others see things differently
Model railroading is a journey. Even the ‘best’ still make mistakes and are learning.
Funny how modellers are saying, “I wish I could model like York1.”
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Good morning from the wet coast where it is10c and yucky.
It is all about having fun and improving as we go along. I wish I could play my guitars better after 55 years. I have posted many songs on Youtube and various FB sites just joining the crowd in contributing as I do here. I had done one during covid and a very famous person who had recorded the song commented that my guitar playing on that song was as perfect as it could be. I was a happy camper after that. I am still not that good but if I focus on getting it perfect where I want to as in one song at a time I get there eventually. Same with my layout, it’s okay, but I keep going back to improve things. Like Bear stated, don’t sell yourself short.
I have been moving stuff all morning out of the living/dinning room as the new floors will be going in. We sure have a lot of junk. 
The china cabinet is full of many generations of crystal, cutlery and other knick-knacks that should all go to the thrift store where they will get a few bucks for the stuff. My sister went through it all twenty-five years ago and removed the valuable collectables and got several thousand dollars for some old figurines. A few got sold to collectors back in England which is where they came from 150 years ago when Grandparents brought them with them when they immigrated to Canada.
Not sure what to do about a Christmas tree this year. I usually drive up the mountain and cut one fresh about now. Can’t set it up with the floors going in. I might settle for a Charlie Brown special from down the back of the property this year. I can hear the razzing from the relatives now if I do that though as I always put a lot of effort into hoofing it around the mountainside looking for the perfect tree. 
One year we were in Hawaii and got home just before Christmas so just grabbed a tree at the local farm for ten bucks. Ten kms away at Home Depot the same tree is $75.00 from the same farm.
My daughter the supervisor, destined to be in management and that is where she ended up.
A few years ago we had an exchange student from Australia staying with us. He had never experienced snow or temperatures below freezing. It was -12c when I dragged him up the mountain to find a tree in three feet of snow. He was suffering but loved every minute of it. Had the truck in four wheel drive and were the first people up the road that morning. We had the usual 20 or so for Christmas dinner which he also loved.
Wife just rolled in from Costco best go help unload.
All the best to all.
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Nice pictures of Christmas at home and the CP Christmas train, thanks Brent.
For Christmas, this book arrived today, used - but ‘as new’ condition.
I can’t stop reading it. I’m finding that Conrail, it’s history and events leading up to, are fascinating to learn about and it has greatly changed my outlook of American Railroads and Model Railroads.
I’m still trying to get my head around my Conrail Shared Assets Operations book.
And I think this is the building where CSAO hang-out - but I’m not sure.
330 Fellowship Rd, Mount Laurel
There seems to be a number of places between NJ and Chicago, where Big Blue’s name crops-up. Paul.
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Yup, I’ve been following Boomer Diorama and his cat for some time now. His modeling techniques are what I had been looking for all my life, as close to museum quality modeling, and he fits the bill!
Recent projects inspired by Boomer are his water effects and trees.
My swing gate swing bridge project depicting the NS main line through the Pearl River, LA.
And my recent trees in progress, completed 2 layers of 12mm flock, another layer to go!
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Except for those of us modeling New Orleans and the NS / NOPB RR interchange!
One of my projects includes converting this Athearn DC GP38-2 from original NS paint scheme to the new NOPB RR scheme.
Original paint scheme:
New paint:
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Nice work, Silver Spike! That locomotive looks great!
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Evening Diners, just a San Miguel for me and for anyone else who might like to partake in a drink tonight, thank you Flo’.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) has been headquartered at 33 East U.S. Highway 12, Chesterton, Indiana since 1985, when the Dune Park station was built to serve both as a commuter hub and the agency’s corporate headquarters, consolidating operations in Porter County.
There is definitely a hint of Insull’s Spanish Mission style architecture, as per ‘Beverly Shores’ station depot - imo.
The new building replaced the older Tremont station, which was being phased out due to depopulation and the expansion of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now Indiana Dunes National Park)
Here’s a view from the ‘Calumet Trail’ side, with a commuter train in the station.
Nice catch - Google camera car.
Paul.
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Hi Silver Spike (Ryan) Been awhile and Der has been in from time to time. I just sit back and watch what goes on
Best to all on sick call and those recovering 
Duke
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The husband of a co-worker of mine in TX was the brother of the president of the A&NR RR. ArJay1969 and I were building him a 5 x 9 railroad with two DCC locomotives, a 2-6-0 and a GP38-2. Unfortunately, he passed away before we could finish everything. He did get to run his steam train at our club, and the look of joy on his face was something I’ll never forget. His wife did not want the railroad, as she had to downsize; she did keep the steam train as a remembrance (a 2-6-0 and two A&NR passenger cars; ARJay did the engine, I did the cars, custom paint/decals).
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Good Evening,
Has been a long time since I last posted. Not much new here except it is winter. More snow tonight. Miss not being able to go to the nature reserve near us. It is called Fort Whyte. Nice to have 600 acres with lakes, ponds and trails not to mention a decent restaurant only 20 minutes from our house.
Ryan, nice to see you back! Not many of the old gang left.
I have been running a few trains. Only have a few locos left but enough to keep me busy..
Have a cardinal hanging around which is very unusual. First time we saw one was the same fellow in the summer hanging out with the house finches. He still is so hopefully he survives the winter.
I have been re-reading some of Ian Wilson’s books and looking at some railway DVDs I have. Passes the time when it is cold outside.
CN Charlie
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Charlie, it’s good to hear from you! I’ve missed your bird reports. Hope everything is going well with you.
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Good Morning Diners. Brunhilda, coffee and a jelly doughnut please.
Been digging myself out from behind the mountain of year end stuff at work. Finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Perfect timing with the holidays two weeks away.
Speaking of digging out, we sure have got a lot of snow in my neck of the woods. Haven’t seen a December like this one in a long time and I love it. I really need the snow to get in the Christmas spirit. I don’t know if it’s because of memories, or that looking at Christmas lights surrounded by snow just hits differently, or what it is. Heck, I remember having enough snow to go snowmobiling at my grandparent’s house at Thanksgiving, and they lived in southern Michigan (Kalamazoo area). There was always snow. Not anymore.
Spent an hour or two running trains last night. Haven’t done that in forever. I recently got the Commodore Vanderbilt hudson and hadn’t really had a chance to put it through its paces, so I let it rip with string of passenger cars in tow, and ran a few freights around it. Had some vintage Christmas music on the record player in the background. It was just about a perfect way to spend the evening.
@CNCharlie Good to see you back in here Charlie! Don’t be so scarce.
Former headquarters of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
Cheers everyone!
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Now this is a headquarters building worthy of the railroad and its namesake city! What a statement in stone! Thanks, Water_Level_Route.
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The Central Vermont Railway had its headquarters in St. Alban’s, VT. Here’s a fairly recent photo:
A modest building for a modest New England railroad.
It turns out that there was quite a discussion of this building on this Forum in September of 2014. Here’s a link to that interesting discussion. Note also a few names of forum contributors from those days:
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That sounds lovely! I’m hoping to do something similar once I figure out some lighting issues with a steam locomotive. I’m convinced it’s a CV problem at this point and I will need to sift through the forest of LokSound commands to address the issue. F u n .
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Good morning, everyone. It’s Wednesday, so I’ll have bacon, eggs, and coffee, Brunhilda.
We had some snow, but yesterday took care of most of it – we got into the 50s. Colder temps are back today, but a lot of the snow is gone. I finally got the last of the ice chipped off the driveway. There’s about a 25 foot stretch of driveway that lies in the shadow of the house all day, so the concrete is cold and the snow and ice never melt. Not fun.
Works continues on the layout houses. I finished another cardboard house. I’m getting to like these cardboard buildings – easy, cheap, and fairly fast building.
I’m not sure if anyone has posted this, so here it is anyway. The Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault St. Marie Railroad (SOO Line) building:
Have a great day, everyone.
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Evening Diners, I’ll just have a coffee tonight, please Flo’.
Another railroad co. I find interesting is the ‘Indiana Harbor Belt’ Railroad, who’s headquarters building is located at 2721, 161st Street, Hammond, Indiana.
The IHB has been located here since around 1907.
The building sits right beside Gibson Yard and anchors HQ operations combining administrative offices, shops, with one of the busiest auto-switching facilities in the country.
It is strategically located at the southeast edge of Chicago’s rail network, making it a natural hub for interchange.
There is a Turntable and Roundhouse located at the east end.
Together with Blue Island Yard, Hammond forms the backbone of IHB’s role as Chicago’s ‘relief valve’, easing congestion by connecting eastern and western carriers.
Have a good evening everyone, Paul.
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