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Railblazer

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  1. Railblazer
    TODAY is the last day for blogging. I just want to thank BZPower again. Hopefully i'll be right this time.
     
    I wonder if we'll have a game tonight. Yesterday's soccer practice was thundered out. Who knows...
  4. Railblazer
    I think I'm going to be limiting my amount of LEGO G-scale rolling stock to engines and small cars. Based on pricing for my Tank Car, Hopper, and Boxcar, what I save on engines I'll lose on cars!
     
    Unless you compare against LGB, in which case I'll still be saving.
     
    I was able to get my N scale Freedom Train GS-4 preordered today. Now I just have to wait until November to get it!
  5. Railblazer
    ...that if you look back at my blog, there are plenty of inconsistencies. I hope you can track everything down, though.
     
    Also, an update on the Sumpter Valley Post-
    First off, the track gauge being determined by Roman horse only goes back to the fact that early British railways were horse-pulled, and the rails had to be wide enough for two horses to walk side by side. This later led to the British gauge, which was copoied in the U.S.
     
    Second, the Sumpter Valley Mikado No. 19 is down for its 15 year inspection. Thus, this year's trains are being pulled by the Oregon Lumber Company Heisler No 3. Just in case you were wondering.
  6. Railblazer

    Eureka!

    By Railblazer,

    You know, that one show on SyFy that has the small town with all the crazy scientists? You know, EUReKA?
     
    So far, the new season is coming along nicely. Yes, it is strange for Tess to be in Eureka, Kevin ot be normal, Henry to be married, Zane to still be in jail, the fonder to be in 2010, and Fargo to be the head of GD.
     
     
    Yes, you heard me. The world is doomed.
  7. Railblazer

    Um.....

    By Railblazer,

    Hi.
     
    Hello.
     
    Hola
     
    Aloha
     
    Mikado
     
    I'm sorry about the randomness of this entry.
     
    Goodbye.
     
    Adieu.
     
    Auvetizen.
     
    Aloha.
     
    Adios.
     
    Farewell.
     
    33-5-6333-898
     
     
    Remember, It's my blog.
  8. Railblazer
    My little brother's Coaster equipment didn't go well with his Alaska railroad rolling stock. And my Alaska Railroad SD70 didn't go well with Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Santa Fe. Although I still have to buy that car before I can give it up.
     
    ER, by the way, It's an SD70MAC and a F59PHI, not an Sd70mac and an F59phi. There's a difference, as shown in SD70ACe.
  9. Railblazer
    Since this is a blog that has a railroading theme to it, I'd thought I'd mention some notable locomotives in the U.S. Not all are listed here.
     
    SP 4449: The only surviving GS-4 steam locomotive, pulled the American Freedom Train. Operational, Portland, OR. 4-8-4
    SP&S 700: The only surviving E-1 class Steam locomotive. Operational, Portland, OR. 4-8-4
    Pere Marquette 1225: The basis for the locomotive in The Polar Express. Operational, Owosso, MI. 2-8-4. (Did I spell that right?)
    SP 4294: The only surviving Cab Forward locomotive. Unoperational, Sacramento, CA. 4-8-8-2.
    UP 844: The only steam locomotive never retired by a Class I Railroad. Operational, Cheyenne, WY. 4-8-4
    UP 3985: Largest operational Steam locomotive in the world. Operational, Cheyenne, WY. 4-6-6-4.
    Milwaukee Road 261: Known for its size and range of operation. Operational, St. Paul, MN. 4-8-4.
    N&W 611: The only surviving J class locomotive. Once operational, now display, Virginia. 4-8-4 (sure are a lot of those)
     
    Other locomotives of note are Nickel Plate 765, 2-8-4 (Op.) SP 4460 (GS-6 4-8-4, Unop) Santa Fe 3751 (4-8-4, Op), various 4-8-8-4 and 4-6-6-4 unoperational locomotives and various smaller steam locomotives. One such engine undergoing restoration is Oregon Railway & Navigation 197, a 4-6-2 in Portland, OR.
  10. Railblazer
    How many of you have heard about plans to build High Speed Rail lines in Florida and California (among other places)? Anyone who said no has got to get a better grip on modern communication. It's been news for a while. But why is it needed?
     
    Easy. Airports are becoming overcrowded. Highways too. Conventional rail can't always get people around fast enough. High speed rail (Defined in the U.S. as over 125 mph) could decrease travel times a lot. (The max train speed in many places is 79 mph.) The Northeast Corridor's Acela Express has shown that high speed rail has a major impact on the area it serves. So why not build it everywhere?
     
    It needs to be economical. High speed works best on distances of 4 hours or less. It needs a dedicated right of way to work best. (Acela travels partly on dedicated track and partly shares with freight traffic.) Most of it is electric, so you need power. And it all adds up to a huge cost. That's what discouraged it in the U.S. (France and Japan had their governments subsidize their high speed lines.) Although the U.S. Gov. gives Amtrak money, it's not for building high speed lines.
     
    However, there are several places that are planning to at least go to speeds of 90-110 mph. Here are a few that are planning or would be ideal locations for high or higher speed rail.:
     
    Vancouver, B.C.-Eugene, OR via Seattle and Portland, OR. Although the Cascades serves this route, it can't go much faster than the Coast Starlight. Track improvements would greatly help.
     
    California-L.A. to Bay Area and Sacramento. It's the most populous state in the U.S. It's already gone into great planning. It just needs to start building!
     
    Florida-Tampa to Orlando. Much planning has gone into this as well. It might not be as economical as other locations, though. If extended to Miami, it would really help.
     
    Boston, MA-Washington, D.C. via New York. This is the route of the Acela Express.
     
    Chicago, IL to Milwaukee, WI. Although the Hiawatha service runs this, it uses standard equipment. Wisconson is buying two new Talgo carsets, similar to those on the Cascades, which will allow for higher speeds.
     
    Texas. A high speed line from Dallas/Fort Worth-Houston-San Antonio-Austin would be pretty popular, I bet. Those are some big cities.
     
    Las Vegas, NV-Victorville, CA. This would be within 50 miles of the California High Speed Rail system. An extension to Palmdale would connect it. Traffic from L.A. to Las Vegas would definetaly be a moneymaker.
     
    As I have said, there are other places. But this is a good idea. And if you want to see the Future of U.S. rail (hopefully)...go ride the Cascades.
  11. Railblazer

    G Scale Planning

    By Railblazer,

    There are plans to put a G-scale (also called Large Scale) in our backyard. There will be a main loop with a 3 track yard and 2 spur sidings on one end, and an additional passing siding on the other end of the loop. A branch line will also cross the back of the main line twice before heading up to a town on the hill. The eventual goal will also be to have all our trains radio controlled so we don't have to worry about a ton of power feeds.
     
    The first phase (this year) will simply be grading, excavation, and preparation for the railroad. The second phase -next year- will be installation of the main line and possibly two of the sidings. The third phase is the branch and the rest of the spurs. [that's in two years].
     
    At the moment, I've been using LEGO Digital Designer to make G-scale Lego railroad equipment. So far, I've done a Maintainence-of-way switcher, an operating MOW crane car, MOW Flat car, MOW Transfer caboose, Geared steam, skeleton log cars, logging caboose, side dump cars, Mining "Critter" loco, and a rotary snowplow. All the operating equipment has space for a battery box, sensor, and a small motor if applicable. Locos have a hole in the base and extra rods so that you can attatch a Lego train motor from LEGO Shop at Home to the base, extend out the wheels, and attach an extension cord to the motor, going to the sensor. At the moment, though, it's pretty expensive, and I'm already saving for that N scale American Freedom Train GS-4 I mentioned earlier. But give me time, and who knows?
  12. Railblazer
    I hope you saw the news ticker on the Hero Factory Website that requested a ton of candles for BZPower's birthday. That's gold, there. The link (I hope)
     
    Second off...how many updates can you put in a title? I don't know, But I'll find out!
     
    On to model railroading...one of my favorite manufacturers is coming out with one that I'm incredibly excited about: an N scale model of SP GS-4 4449 in the American Freedom Train scheme! AWESOME!
     
    Though I'm wondering if I would rather have that, or another manufacturer's model of SP's AC-12 Cab Forward steam locomotives. I do have a model of 4449 in standard colors.
     
    Other thatn that, I'm good. Check back tomorrow.
     
  13. Railblazer
    I would like to start by thanking BZPower for giving everyone Premier Membership for a week. It's really nice.
     
    Now, on to the updates!
     
    The end of May marked this year's 8th grade trip for our school. It was a lot of fun. Between Great Wolf Lodge (Centralia, WA), the Point Defiance Zoo, going to the rock and roll/science fiction museum, watching the Mariners beat the Padres 15-8, seeing the Coast Starlight twice (once heading to the station, the second to the coach yard.) going to the Space Needle (again), Riding the Ducks of Seattle (fun!) and Seeing Iron Man 2, it was awesome!
     
    On the side notes for the trip:
    I heard one of my classmates fell out of the innertube on one of the rides at Great Wolf. I have yet to ask the person, though.
    I saw 2 interesting pieces of Railroad equipment on one train: an SD9043MAC, and an Oregon & Northwestern Boxcar. Of the two, the boxcar's cooler.
     
    I learned many new terms and had interesting experiences on the ducks.
    Pedestrian: Speedbumps.
    Whenever you go past Starbucks (or Seattle's Best Coffee) shout, "There's a Starbucks!" followed by, "Lattes!"
    A lot of the buildings in Seattle have burned down.
    The Beattles stayed at a waterfront hotel in Seattle once, though I don't remember when. When they left, a local store bought the carpet, cut it into 1 square inch sections, and was sold out in 15 minutes.
     
    Figure 400 square foot room. Multiply by 144. Say $30 per square inch for the carpet. That guy could have made over 1.5 million! IN 15 MINUTES!
     
    Those were the highlights of the trip. Check back for more updates.
  15. Railblazer
    Ah... winter break.
    Over the time spent, i purchased:
    1 Kato USA N scale model of EMD's SD70ACe in Union Pacific's Southern Pacific Heritage scheme.
    Several packs of track to match what i got on Dec 25.
    On Dec 24-25, i recieved
    1 Kato USA Unitrack double track plate girder bridge-black N scale
    1 Kato USA Unitrack bumper type c 2 pack N scale
    1 Tomix curved turnout Nscale- NOT COMPATIBLE W/ UNITRACK
    1 Bachmann DDA40X (DD40AX) Nscale w/ DCC-Union Pacific No 6927
    2 Hubert's Bethgon Coalporters- Aluminator
    2 movies
     
    Happy Holidays!
    Note: due to current religious bickering, holiday names not mentioned
  16. Railblazer
    Great Wolf Lodge. Or rather, the one i'm in, located in **CENSORED**.
    This place has everything! Indoor waterpark! Ice Cream shop! MagiQuest game! Kitchen sink!
     
     
    oops. sorry! My brain is still rattled from that stairwell incident.
     
    This place could use laser tag... but it's still cool!(if pricey)
  17. Railblazer
    Today was really painfull. In gym class, we're doing badmitton. As I walked off the stage (warm-ups) I jumped off the 2nd or 3rd step.
    I hit the top of the stairwell.
    You should not there are only 4-6 stairs, so it's not a talll stairwell. The result was not major laughter, but rather, a splitting headache... and as i later found out, perhaps a dent in my head. I jumped up, Hit head, hit stairs. Ouch.
    I asked someone some questions about that, and got surprising answers.
     
    On the plus side, i balanced a pen on my nose in science and math classes. Only a few others could do this. Later i got first 2, then 3 on my nose! Holy pens!
     
    So remember... BEWARE THE STAIRWELL!
  19. Railblazer
    1st off- how many updates can i come up with?
    2nd- I just got back from a trip to the Willamette Valley. I got a really cool book that's basically a guide to the Percy Jackson And the Olympians series called DEMIGODS AND MONSTERS. You should get it.
    3rd- I saw a bunch of trains on this trip, from a little "moo-train" at a corn maze to Amtrak's Cascades.
    Out of time. Bye.
  20. Railblazer

    Say Cheese!

    By Railblazer,

    Wendsday (how do you spell that?)
    Othrodontist in Ontario, Oregon. Spacer removed. Colors change from red and blue to orange and dark (Pullman) green.
    Too much eaten at Golden Corral, Nampa, Idaho. Too much spent at Costco, Nampa, Idaho.
    Spotted LEGO set at Costco, Helicopter Transport, $28.99, normally $39.99.
    Also, THE LEGEND REBORN at $12.99. Recommendation, pick up quickly.
    Kapurkar Out
    *zzzt*
  21. Railblazer

    Updating Updates

    By Railblazer,

    The reason the Power Cab won't run non-DCC engines is because it may harm the loco.
    Fortunately, there is a solution.
    I am currently contently watch The Legend Reborn. It's awesome!
  22. Railblazer

    My New Toy!

    By Railblazer,

    I got a new toy...an NCE Power Cab DCC system!
    It's really cool...but it won't run decoderless engines, as it should .
    It works, though. I can run 3 engines, though later more.
    I'm gonna show it to a friend soon!
  23. Railblazer

    Uh,,, Reason Less Entry

    By Railblazer,

    This is an entry for my procrastinations
     
    I'd go to bed, but I'm explaining ADD, which is Attention Deficit Disor- Look! A Butterfly!
    I'd eat dinner, but A cebu is eating my shoe
    I would goplay with my KATO NSCALE GS-4 4-8-4 No 4449 SOUTHERN PACIFIC DAYLIGHT ENGINE choo choos, but that strikeout took a really long time.
  24. Railblazer

    Railroad Info

    By Railblazer,

    Scale: N (1:160)
    Track Plan Name: West Coal
    Location: Somewhere here(Look for N Scale Track Plans)
    Size of Plan: 3ft by 15ft
    Our size: 3 1/2ft by 12ft
    We cut off the right end
    Track: Kato UNITRACK
    Happy Building!
  25. Railblazer
    Here's a filler between last entry and now.
    7th grade done & gone.
    New AKRR SD70MAC engine
    13 years.
    Kato UNITRACK comes
    New railroad built
    Grandpa dies
    100th fair. Some LEGO figures sto- er, really fun fair.
    8th grade starts
     
    Events not in order.
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