Large Scale Central

2015 Official Spring Run Thread

Its snowing, here in beautiful Deer Park. Daktah John, are you responsible for this?

I would hope so, but as big a blow-hard that I am, I can’t quote blow the snow across the entire country.

We had 8" yesterday on a 3-5" forecast. Supposed to snow again tonight, turn to rain for 6 hours then back to snow by the AM commute. Welcome to meteorological spring!

Why are we talking about snow, I thought this was the spring run thread!

I can’t wait to get outside!

Nico

You shouldn’t be surprised: forget the meteorological Spring and stick to the time honoured dates that have been observed for many moons.And don’t forget Phil did cast his shadow! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

We’ve changed our traditional snowstorm dinner from French Toast to Roast Groundhog.

Make sure it’s a young one Jon!They have some good dark meat

…but try to get them early in the season, toward the end they get tough and real greasy…

Spring at this rate spring wont arrive until July. Another snowy and cold day.

Well it did feel like spring yesterday…so much so that I shoveled the snow off the roof of my shop and broke up the chunk of ice hanging off the roof next to the bathroom window…then i stepped off the roof onto the snow pile and climbed back to earth…yep, sure sign of spring!

OK, this has gone on long enough. It’s NOT spring. I sure wish it was. This thread doesn’t help at all when it’s a blizzard outside.

Spring starts March 20th, soooo … two more weeks of Winter. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)SWMBO left for Nova Scotia last night and she was absolutely floored by how much snow there is on the East coast.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif) Out here we’re hoping for one or two more generous dustings.

As far as the current state of the layout

But there is hope on the horizon

Samedan Switcher 212 crawling along in speed step 001 (of 128). It is slow enough to almost qualify as standing still.
BTW “Raven” got introduced to the growl of the engine when the compressor kicks in. One more thing to bark at around the house. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

PS Note to Dennis Paulson: That engine purrs i.e. it is the cat’s meow! Thanks! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Bruce Chandler said:

OK, this has gone on long enough. It’s NOT spring. I sure wish it was. This thread doesn’t help at all when it’s a blizzard outside.

But, Bruce, where I live, Spring has sprung. The iris and tulips have poked through the ground, and the grass has thrown off its winter slumber. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)

I’m planning to dig out the railroad AGAIN this weekend, If I get it done I’ll have the chance to do some rare mountain railroading with trains running in the canyons between mountains of SNOW! Film at 11.

I think I’ll just wait for “Mother Nature” to “dig” it out. All I can see is the tops of the buildings, and with the rain we had on Wed, it’ll be a block of ice under all the snow…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I may find that as well Ken. I had it all dug out two weekends (three storms) ago. Some was iced over but I would have been able to run on about 1/3.

EDIT to add: My building roofs are at least 1 foot under at the moment!

All that slush that was under the snow gave the snowblower a workout, not to mention the guy operating it…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Today was such a beautiful late winter day here I decided to take a play from Ken’s book and have a cup of coffee by the fire…

I got the man-paths around the railroad dug out again. The bridge at Indian Hill is scheduled for replacement this year. I hope the new one if finished before there is a catastrophe here…

We brought out the heavy equipment to clear the line from Wall up the hill. My manual flanger was used to do the final clean up. Trains will be delayed until the sun can help open up the flangeways just a little bit more…

Wall Station was dug out even though the town of Wall remains buried under 50 scale feet of snow. The Passenger Convenience has seen better days. Good thing the new station is almost ready for placement once all the snow melts…

Coal Dump Curve is nearly ready for traffic…

Looking back at the curve from Indian Hill Bridge…

Ice blocks progress beyond the top of Indian Hill Bridge. Trains will have to wait untill Mother Nature can do her magic here. 50’s forecast for next week, so it’s possible trains can pass soon…

But even Mother Nature and 50 degree temps will have a hard time alleviating the ice jam at Walk Crossing. It’s about two inches thick here…

The snowy man-paths are a bit easier to walk on then the icy sidewalk…

The new Engine House is starting to re-appear after being completely buried…

Meanwhile, the fire is roaring and helping to melt some of the snow…

Looking back into the railroad from Walk Crossing…

The Watch Tower at Indian Hill Junction peeks out from a mountain of snow waiting for the ice to melt so trains can pass once more…

Looking back from the Junction toward Pine Summit where clearing stopped. I have yet to dig out Deep Cut…

Looking at Walk Crossing and the mountain that still covers Northville from the diamond…

It’s supposed to be sunny and even warmer tomorrow. It’s quite likely the railroad will see some traffic (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

NOTE: Photos in this post, like most of my other recent posts are 1280 pixels wide and can be viewed in high resolution using your browser’s View Image function.

Jon,

I hope you get some thawing weather soon, buddy. I don’t know if I could go as long as you Northerners without running some trains. I get buggy after a couple of days without my train fix! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Not to worry Joe. If things get really bad I have some indoor track. Not a continuous run, but enough to do some switching.

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:

Spring starts March 20th, soooo … two more weeks of Winter. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)SWMBO left for Nova Scotia last night and she was absolutely floored by how much snow there is on the East coast.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif) Out here we’re hoping for one or two more generous dustings.

As far as the current state of the layout

What type of conifer overhangs the layout?

Scotch Pine ?