This month, the diner car will be parked on a siding somewhere in the second largest state of the US. With the help of the diner patrons and forum members familiar with the locale, we will explore the state and see, what Texas has to offer in terms of railroading, model railroading and, last but not least, food. So hop on board and enjoy your stay!
For those new to this place, Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies. Everybody is welcome to participate in the Diner !
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda — is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual diner fare with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip! Now and then, our host Steven Otte chips in and brings along some goodies for us to try - which is always heartily welcomed!
Sunday - time for my big & unhelathy breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, buttered toast, OJ and lots of coffee!
I am not sure whether we agreed upon a new location yesterday. Wisconsin appeared to be too cold yet, so I took the liberty of going south to the taste of Texas. Let´s start our time down there with a view on a Texan railroad icon!
Kevin - I am quite aware of that, but facts are facts and Alaska is more than double the size.
Thank you for moving the diner. My Grandfather, Charles Armstrong Roy, went to work for the railroad in Brownsville Texas in 1905. He was an engineer, running the train that moved Blackjack Pershing from Texas to Arizona as he chased Pancho Villia, after his incursions into the US–holding up the train coming into Brownsville, among other transgressions. Grandpa retired from the Missouri Pacific August of 1940, after being the Yard Master and interpreter for the railroad. He purchased his retirement vehicle, a 1939 Ford 2dr. roadster, which he drove until his passing in 1955, at age 94. In late January, 1942 he was called back into service for the railroad. There was a steady stream of material sent out of the port of Brownsville tied to the war effort. He retired for the second time in October of 1945. He was responsible for my fixation with steam, arranging several trips up to Harlengen and back on 2-8-0s, and 4-6-2 engines. I still miss him, he was a very patient, kind person. I have very fond memories hunting and fishing with him, and Dad.
I visited a train show in the little town of Mount Hope, Ohio. This is in Amish country near some of the old stomping ground of Jerry Jacobsen’s Ohio Central Railroad and the Age of Steam Roundhouse.
It was just like the model train shows I remember from years ago. Mom & Pop vendors, reasonable prices and lots of variety in merchandise. Glad I made the two-hour drive [:D]
I hope you are all in good health and spirits today. [angel]
Here is a shot of the UP Desert Strom engine on the point of the Texas Limited ( a short lived passenger operation between Houston and Galveston) We are heading towards Galveston near Texas City.
I’m having trouble finding non copywrited pics of Lubbock, home ofBuddy Holly, place of origination of National Pig Day; which is today March 1st and the Silent Wings Glider Museum.
It is also the only place I’ve heard a weather forecast calling for Blowing Mud.
Fort Worth and Denver Railway station is now the Buddy Holly Museum
The South Plains and Santa Fe built in 1918 is now the West Texas and Lubbock serving the UP and BNSF
In Texas??? Lion is going to Texas (Austin) in September. I’ll fly in, but will not rent a car, but rather depend on public transit. It looks quite doable since three of those days will be at the Spiceworks Convention.
BTW: Can anybody tell me what STATE CAPITOL is on the Colorado River???
Henry, they have a display of the gliders at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special OPS museum, in Fayettevill, NC. Visited it quite often, as after our sn went though BT at Lackland, he was stationed at Pope AFB.
Texas eh? I’ve never been there and doubt that I will so this virtual tour will have to suffice.
Last night I ran my Hudson a little and it does run very well. That fellow who worked on it sure knows what he is doing. It does go around my 22" radius curves although I only ran it at a slow speed. It seemed to run fine with no speed drop or signs of binding. I don’t think I will try a high speed run as it is likely at its limit.
We are having a heat wave here, likely it will hit 35F today and is supposed to be there most of the week. You never know what March will be like here, sometimes spring, sometimes winter. We’ve had a very mild winter altogether.
The stockpile of food and supplies started yesterday. The advice from the ‘authorities’ here is to have supplies to last at least 2 weeks in case of a self quaranteen. We plan on putting in enough for a month. It will force us to do a clean up in the storage area which we need to do anyway.
Think I’ll go to the gym today. Sunday is pizza and TV night here. We just get a frozen one and add stuff to it . One brand is actually quite good. Robbie really gets excited when he sees the box come out of the freezer.
Once in 1981 when I was in High School and living outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we made a school trip to Astroworld in Houston, where I saw Dire Straits perform live.
In 1994 I went to Del Rio briefly to work on a dam rebuilding project.
In 2012 I went to Dallas for a company event in Six Flags Over Texas. I made a comment to a Texan that I was not impressed with their amusement park. He said “Oh, I guess you think you have better amusement parks where you are from?” Well, yeah, I am from Florida. Amusement parks are kind of who we are. That was when I learned all about that Texas attitude.
Happy March all, time to cut the lawn.
