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Railblazer

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  2. Railblazer

    B O O Y A H!

    By Railblazer,

    GUESS WHAT! I BEAT DAD'S HIGH SCORE ON RAILROAD TYCOON II! YEEEES!
    In case you are wondering, Railroad Tycoon II is a really fun strategy game. It is different from the other Tycoon games i have played in that in RollerCoaster Tycoon II, you are managing and expanding your park and finance. You have one goal in a scenario.
    But in Railroad Tycoon II, You manage your railroad, expand, watch the company finance, but also *watch your personal finance and the stock market. You issue bonds, repay them, issue stock in bad times, buy it back later, and merge with opponents!
    That is right! you can chose difficulty, add players (in single player, AI ones), and change renevue levels.
    You can also make maps, buy industries, and maybe even play Multiplayer!^ Can you do from * to ^ in other games?
  4. 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.
  5. Railblazer

    Comics

    By Railblazer,

    A few clicks ago I started a comic topic. This is Kapurkar's comic studio. Full of laughs, flying chairs, and explosions, this should be a fan fav.

    LINKY!
  6. Railblazer

    Darn.

    By Railblazer,

    You know how I went to the Dentist a few entries ago? I thought I was through for a while. I thought I was done.
    I was wrong.
    Now I have a dentist appointment in Ontario, OR. The good news is that we may adopt a dog.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  10. 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?
  11. 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.
  12. Railblazer

    I Survived!

    By Railblazer,

    Today on the Redmond Dental Trip, I had a fortunate - I didn't have to worry about getting a filling.
    Then I saw a 7-diesel BNSF frieght while eating lunch!
    We went to Costco, and I saw two live birds flying around. Dad said they flew n but couldn't get out.
    We went to the Nearby Humane Society, but we couldn't find a dog we liked.
  13. Railblazer
    Last Night Was the Talent Show In The County Fair (which is the longest continuous fair in Oregon-99 years, 100 next year.) I sang With dad a song by deceased composer, John Denver. The song was "Grandma's Feather Bed", and Won us Second prize in our division. As a treat, Dad let me and my sister go on the Hammerhead.
     
    Here's a Line
     
    "Well I love my Ma, I love my Pa, I love Granny and Grandpa too,
    I've Been Fishin' with my uncle, I rassled with my cousin, I even kissed Aunt Lou, EEEEEW!"
  15. Railblazer

    Jessie

    By Railblazer,

    Tuesday, July 1st:
    We got a dog from the Redmond Humane Society in Redmond, OR.
    She is part Pit Bull, Part Chihuahua.
    Reminds me of a movie Disney is making.
    She was called Nala.
    She trusts Jalina More than me, but only slighty.
    She is the cutest dog this side of the Galaxy.
    Martians landed at my house.
    There is a STARGATE in my closet.
    And a hitching bink in the Kitchen Sink.
    My sister is weird,
    i am not!
    you are too!
    am not!
    are too!
    Am Not!
    Are Too
    D-2!
    Not Funny! (keyboard fight follows)
  16. Railblazer
    In 1888 I think it was, two Chinese men bought an old army military post. This became the Historic Kam Wah Chung & Co.
    Doc Hay was the most famous herbal doctor between San Fransisco and Seattle...I'm serious. He lived until 1948, and some of his herbs are still in the museum, the real Kam Wah Chung building.
    Lung On owned a general store, and when he died in 1940, he owned several rental properties, a few mines, and the first auto dealership in Eastern Oregon!
    I have been in the museum several times, so if you are passing through a small town in Eastern oregon, find it and visit it!
  17. Railblazer
    Monday. kids go back to school, parents go back to work, and I go to the Train Barn.
     
    The Train Barn hosts two model railroads and has meetings on Mondays, and Operating sessions on the second Monday of the Month.
    Last time, nothing bad happened to me, an unusual surprise. oops...
    Well, Gotta go!
  19. 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!
  20. Railblazer

    Mythbusters!

    By Railblazer,

    Mythbusters. One of the Coolest Discovery Channel Shows in my opinion. They Bust myths, sometimes not knowing a trip somewhere would have saved them the trouble.
    They Put their life on the line. They Blow things up. They Sling objects. They shoot them. They Set them on fire. The destroy them. Then They Blow them up again.
    All who like Mythbusters, post BOOM!
  21. Railblazer
    Today my family went to see what mom does once or twice a week. Go out to the woods and check on her projects.
    I think I won the, "Fastest Wade Through A Large Culvert Which Has Many Spiders Against The Very Fast Current In Freezing Cold Water."
    And the, "Fastest Wade Through A Large Culvert Which Has Many Spiders With The Very Fast Current In Freezing Cold Water."
    I'll make a couple medals on Paint and put them in a content Block.
    I also Checked the Fish nets.
  22. 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.
  23. 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!
  25. Railblazer

    Oooh, Boy.

    By Railblazer,

    More of Yesterday's Info:
    The Sacajawea center was a great place. I learned much about the Shoshone Natives.
    If you ask me, I feel that the enviromentalists are more nuts after I visited!
    The Town of Salmon is definetaly a place I would want to Move to!
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