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A little bit of action in the east yard.     Charlie

On Monday, May 9, I officially rejoined the workforce as the Senior Inspector for the Flat Rock Dam Project in Philadelphia. The project involves reconnecting the Manayunk Canal to the Schuylkill River.



This the portion of existing dam that will be removed and replaced.



The Schuylkill River running high from the weekend rains.



This is the existing intake gate which was built in the 1820's. The brick gatehouse was added sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The section to left was added in 1920. The intakes were permanently closed in 1940. Due to the poor condition the gatehouse will be removed down to a wall about 2 and half feet high. The 1920 section will be demolished completely.



Another view of the intake gate structure



The structure to the left and in the foreground is part of the 1920 addition. This portion will not be demolished but the pipes will be blocked and filled. The original structure is to right.



Looking down the canal. The intake is to the right. The wall on the left is the end of the lock.

The project is scheduled to take 900 days.

I am surrounded by rails. Running along the canal is the former PRR Schuylkill Valley Branch (now a trail) and the Reading now SEPTA's Norristown Branch. Across the river is Norfolk Southern. I am going to try to get some photos.

Over this weekend I have been busy fixing and painting some of the railroad cars. I have painted one caboose and one gondola so far. Now I just have to find out where to order the decals I need for them which is the V&O. I understand the blue might be a little dark but after some weathering you shouldn't be able to tell the difference. I am making a trip to the hobby store this week as they changed their hours and are now open tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. I will be getting a few more cars to take apart and repaint. I'm hoping to have these two finished at least with all the painting this weekend.

Gondola
   

Caboose
   
   

Starting the week early---lots of time for everyone to join in (I hope)

P1460759 by Ed Creechan, on Flickr

Just curious, but some time ago I wondered if there was a use for used toothpaste tubes so I collected a few. When cut open the become a thin, small sheet of pliable plastic that is silver on one side. I think I threw them away when I realized that for N scale, they scale as over an inch and a half thick and wouldn't work for what I wanted to do. They measure around 6" x 4" x .01".

I'm wondering if any of you have used this material for anything? I cut one up again thinking it could be used maybe as tin siding or roofing material or shape it for scenery. Not sure how it would glue up or hold paint, but I'll find out.

   
   

With the weather being nice I have not had a chance to get on the computer until now. Spent the day working outside and the evening recovering. So better late than never here is the Weekly Photo Fun.

Coal hoppers being taken to the Power Plant by a Reading GP30 (Bachmann) running long hood forward.

Hello, I recently purchased a Bachmann 2-8-0 locomotive and I would like to install a DCC sound decoder.
It is a DC only locomotive, I would need some tips and suggestions on decoder choices and installation methods.

Thank you

I guess I start the thread this week, hope everyone is ok  

My phone just rang with the caller id of Wellmark Blue Cross which is where I have my supplemental insurance.  When the recording started I was informed that the warrant on my car had expired.  They get more devious by the minute.  I wonder how many people answered the call expecting it to be about their health insurance?  End of rant!

Tom