There's a new action movie coming out in November. It is loosely based on the "Crazy Eights" unmanned train incident in 2001. The train rumbled on a 66-mile journey through northwest Ohio with no one at the controls. For two hours, the train it pulled sailed along at speeds up to 47 mph until a CSX employee, in a daring maneuver, jumped aboard the moving train at a crossing and shut down the power. This time, the Allegheny & West Virginia Railroad frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city.

The GE are the bad guys, and the EMD are the good guys.

At one point the movie trailer (look it up on You Tube), the police are shown firing their weapons at the fuel tank, assuming to starve the runaway train of fuel oil (and maybe getting the EPA knocking at their door about a fuel spill 50 miles long). If I was one of the adviser, I would script it to shoot at the radiator area, causing the diesel engine to overheat and shut down, or at the generator to make it fly apart, or trying to crack the engine block with armored piercing rounds. Anyway it is ONLY A MOVIE.

Also my thinking if the chase train tries to couple up from the rear and applies full dynamic brakes, wouldn't straightlining cause the train to derail (with its load of HAZMAT). But is ONLY A MOVIE.

What do you think?

Union, Newark, Dover & Eastern Central

I model the Union, Newark, Dover & Eastern Central. It's an imaginary railroad in Northern NJ, just across the Hudson River from New York City.

I noted in almost the HO scale offering, this road name of the Union, Newark, Dover & Eastern Central. Is always listed as one of their product, even Bachmann offers it. I feel great since I don't have to complain that my road is not offered, such as the SLSF, NKP, A&P,LV, etc.

My rolling stocks are in a natural color either black or gray. Some of my diesels are in three colors.

Are you curious? 
Look at the reporting marks.

Have a good day.

  Mike Rowe, the hardest working man in showbiz, has worked over 200 jobs since DIRTY JOBS launched in 2005 on Discovery Channel. But it's not a lack of commitment that has brought Mike to so many different jobs in such a short time it's his strong belief that it's exactly the dirtiest of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Let's face it -- where would we be without the garbage picker-uppers, the concrete chippers, the hot tar roofers and yes, even the chick sexers?

For Mike's 200th job, featured on Tuesday, February 17 from 9-10 PM ET/PT, he travels to Boise, Idaho to build and restore locomotives. There, his apprenticeship starts in the fabrication building, where he cuts raw steel into parts using a plasma burn saw. Next, he uses a forklift to break away any leftover soot residue from the burn saw by flipping the catch plate end-over-end in the parking lot. Meanwhile, in the engine refurbishing shop, Mike helps takes apart a locomotive engine and scrapes away old sludge from the inside. The old engine is then spun and cleaned in an acid bath while Mike visits the finishing area, where he shows off the locomotives getting their final touchups. It's an amazing 200th job, as Mike gets to end his day driving operating a newly completed locomotive.

From the time I signed my DD form 1966 (enlistment contract) to my final DD form 214 (discharge certificate) 21 years later, I was among the best people America has to offer (I turned down alot of people when I was recruiting).

I got to railfan alot all over the world and looked for local hobby shops along the way. I never had a real layout as I had to pack every three years and move on. Yet I always look forward to joining another model railroad club at my new assignment.

So today I honor my fellow members of the uniform side of the Department of Defense, DHS's US Coast Guard, the uniformed medical people of the Public Health Service, and Commerce Department NOAA fleet.

Thanks to all
Canada - It's your Remembrance Day too!

(Don't forget about the free dinner at the Goldern Corral Monday17 November)

Dr. EMD
USAF-Retired

Were these locomotives used for cargo trains? 

Just received my catalog last week. As I was reading the material in the most expensive part of my house, I notice an error in one of the model they offer.

It's not one of those wheels off the track, but on page 36 on the SP 40' Express Car the "opening" door is hung upside down!

Chalk one up for non-modelers working at a railfan establishment.

Robert Schleicher, editor of Railmodel Journal Magazine, has announced that his RMJ magazine has ceased publication. The June 2008 issue is their final issue.

I noted many publication uses (incorrectly) the term "friction" bearings when they talk about the older cotton waste soaked in oil journal boxes. This is to differentiate from the roller bearing journal boxes.

The term "solid" is much suited for these older type of bearings than the term "friction".

This maybe at one time the term "anti-friction" was used to describe roller bearing journals.

Hopefully you don't start calling locomotive cab a "cockpit", or talk about cargo trains.

Just a though.   

I have this Pennsy 4-8-4 which I received last year on April one, I have 800mm radius curves on my layout, yet the front bogie keeps derailing. I adjusted the tension on the spring with my metric needle nose pliers and loosen the screw with my friend's left handed phillips screwdriver. The problem is still there.

Would cutting a loonie in half and gluing the half loonie on top of the bogie add more weight to make the R-2 track better?

My PRR GG-2 Challenger runs with no problem.

WOW - RRi
Model Railroad software for the Wii, called "No Basement, No Problem".

It is due out first of April according to MRR  .

 
MTH announced their next locomotive (after their triplex and K-4). It's a Southern Pacific GS-4.
http://www.mthhotrains.com/news.asp

I see they will offer a de-streamlined version.

Can the HO market bear it?

 
I'm looking forward to the TIA Toy Show. Not that I'm a member, but hopefully Bachmann MAY announce some new products for LATER IN THE YEAR.

The Toy Show is the next three day weekend (Washington-Lincoln birthday). Only members of the trade (toy store wholesalers/buyers) are allowed in.

"Stay tune for more news"

OK. Here's the web site as I hinted.



http://www.northlandz.com/ It is in northern Jersey.

Admission
Adults                  $13.75
Children (2-12)      $9.75
Children under 2    FREE
Senior Citizens     $12.50

Is it worth it?

 http://www.tsinsider.com/en-US/Pages/default.aspx

Looks pretty good!
Can't find a release date yet!

He was on a flatbed tractor-trailer heading north on I 95 at Newington, VA at about 3PM.

Hi
I got my draft notice right after high school in 1972, but knowing how the US Air Force only allows college grads into combat I enlisted. Twenty one years later I retired as an E-7 from aircraft maintenance and a masters degree in business.
My tours included weekends at Cajon Pass, Tower 55, watching coupling of buffer hook and link trains, and listening to SDP-28 as it is pulling Japanese designed coaches. When I was on Okinawa, I was a member of the Okinawa Model Railroad club at Camp Kue.

To the other brothers/sister in arms, thanks for doing your share of defending our nation.

Dr EMD

If you wondered who was buying up all the Bachmann Spectrum City Scenes kits should look at the Dec 2007 issue of Model Railroader.

Rod said he rather be on the cover of MR than on the cover of "Rolling Stone". He gives this hobby a great shot in the arm.

Dr EMD

The R&R Hall of Fame (1994) member will be in December 2007 Model Railroader.

A die-cast Erie Triplex (2-8-8-2) is coming in 2008 as well as a modern K4.
Hint - the company's HQ is in Maryland.

This Bachmann retailer has a special clearance on their only model railroad rolling stock/power supply product they carry - BACHMANN!

Someone else can fill you in.
Here's the teaser:

CLOSE OUT ON
BACHMANN OVERSTOCKS!

First come...first served. While quantities last.
To receive these prices, you must order by phone:

1 800 225 1066