Hello Everyone---I've always had a facination with trains,the fact that my father was a locomotive engineer on the Canadian National Railway had a lot to do with it I'm sure.Like many children,I was lucky to get a train set for Christmas---if I recall my first train was made by Marx,a New York Central steam engine with an oval track that I would play with for hours on end. As I "grew up", my interests expanded but I never stopped taking the time to watch a train pass by,I only wish I had a camera back then as there were still steam engines in abundance.I didn't start collecting trains until I got married---I blame my wife on my "obsession",as she was the person who very much encouraged me and supported me to pursue a hobby "to keep me out of trouble". About 30 years ago I bought a steam engine from a LHS and would you believe that it was a model from Doctor Wayne's Grand Valley---I had never met Wayne ,but this purchased started not only a start of my train collection but more importantly a true friendship with Doc. As I was going through some old photos,I came across a picture of this locomotive---as you can see,he was a very talented craftsman long ago.

Hi all my friend took these videos and i asked if i could post to share and got the ok so heres the link. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/choochoo1225pm">http://www.youtube.com/user/choochoo1225pm</a><!-- m -->

As a side hobby, i often rear butterflies. I had a total of 5 individuals, three monarch, two black swallowtails. none of them have made it, though i have one black swallotail caterpillar left, but no guarantees.

One monarch was a victim of a Tachinid fly. These lay eggs on larva of various species, and the maggots will eat out said host. Why they are incredibly beneficial to the environment (they kill pests, and fill as pollinators for places bees can't go), it is a shame when they target a pretty butterfly, and not a pest insect. They wait until the caterpillar forms a chrysalis, then they eat their way out, killing the monarch in the process.

the second monarch was a victim of a pathogen of some kind. I don't know exactly what did it in, but it was not able to form correctly, and had other symptoms of infection by something.

the third monarch had a bum leg, which is bad, as Monarchs and many other butterflies are "4-legged". Their front pair of legs are undersized and folded up towards the body, and they only walk on the middle and rear pairs of legs. this resulted in the monarch being unable to hold and as a result, he fell and broke the root of his left forewing, grounding him permanently. IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH... he appears to be a carrier of the same infection that knocked off the above individual. butterflies with a more mild infection usually can survive, and that is how they continue to transmit the disease. Perhaps its better it is grounded anyway.

One of my Black Swallowtails hatched, but failed to spread its left wings properly, and there is a large bend in the right fore wing. While I did find him in a proper hanging postion when i noticed this, I'm assuming it must have fell and been un-able to spread its wings, as it had plenty of things to hold onto. The first ten minutes after the butterlfy hatches are extremely important, and i'm guessing thats when he fell, since damage at that time usually results in problems like this. Luckily, he is otherwise healthy, and accepts gatorade, so i guess he'll just have to hang out.

the last black swallowtail is still a caterpillar. I've been feeding him, but he should have formed into a chrysalis and hatched as an adult by now, so I'm guessing he has something wrong as well, but he is still eating. Its a good sign this individual also has a parasite, but he could just be a late-bloomer. we'll see.


I don't think I've ever had such an unfortunate group. As it turns out though, only 1 of 10 monarchs ever survive as eggs/caterpillars/chrysalis. While they taste bad and are poisonous to most predators, there are a few specialized predators and many microbial and fungal illness that frequently wipe out the majority of the butterflies before they ever turn into adults and spread their wings.

Well it seems like Im alwatys changing my mind on what to do with my layout, and as of recently I was going to dissassmeble my 9'x21' DMIR layout and re design it. Well im still gonna take it down, but instead of redesinging it in the same area, Im going to use an area that is about 12'x11' and go back to my old idea of building the Red Rock Northern layout out of a model railroader magizine that I have, Im just gonna freelance a small midwest BN served railroad. This way I still wont be using the entire basement and still will have a nice railroad. I also dont want something so big that by the time its done Im moving out of the house. Ill draw up a final plan and post pics sometime and hopefully get the current layout somewhat disassembled so I can start. Just wanted to update you guys and I guess that Ive always found starting a thread motivates me.

I'm looking for the following Scale Rail Graphics HO
scale decals:

Set 31041 - Wisconsin & Southern 9/11/01 Commemorative Box Car
#503144 "God Bless America" with waving flag.

Set 31042 - Wisconsin & Southern 9/11/01 Commemorative Box Car
#503081 "A Day America Will Never Forget" with waving flag.

Set 31043 - Wisconsin & Southern 9/11/01 Commemorative Box Car
#503143 "No One Comes Close" with Air Force logo.

Set 31053 - Wisconsin & Southern Evans 53' Boxcar

Set 31071 - Wisconsin & Southern "We Support the Troops" Evans 53' Boxcar

Set 31074 - Wisconsin & Southern Grey Boxcars

has anyone ever been in contact with them I'v been trying for several months and never got a reply to my emails. are they still around or closed there doors?
jim

Now this is cool!!! 8-) 8-) 8-)

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Play the video, It's good!

I thought this may help some of us understand what our wives do when we are model railroading.
Robin sews , quilts , works the shop , scrapbooks , and this weekend she is repainting her doll house.



Mike

I was reading one of the Baldwin books and in it they said that the #3460 was dubbed the Mae West, I'v always heard it refered to as the Blue Goose . anyone else heard of it being called the Mae West?
jim

I just happened to notice this locomotive on a siding at the junction of the CN and the Minnesota Commercial RR. I'll see if I can get the story behind it. Most of the MN Commercial's motive power is painted this red color. Not sure if its a recent acquisition. loaner, etc. Never saw it before...... All kinds of interesting things appear at this junction. I should always carry a camera in the car!





Ralph