Large Scale Central

Hello again

General Discussion
#1

M’back, well nearly. got just one more week here in Japan before I set off back to yUK. Apart from a coupla weeks relaxing in Oregon, saying hello to our good friends the Smiths in Port Orford and staying over in Grant’s Pass with friends there, and managing a few days at our usual holiday hutch in Cannon Beach, I have been working here in Tokyo since the beginning of May. Nothing to report, apart from buying, and having fixed, an Accucraft 3-cylinder Shay, with a new giant-sized gas tank and improved lubricator from David Bailey.

I won’t mention the Accucraft K-27, as it’s a sparkie, 'cept to note in mitigation that it DOES have full sound. Mrs tac likes to have something to run that doesn’t involve cooking, she says.

Took many piccies of the numerous ASTER steam-up days Zubi and I went to here in Tokyo, Yokohama, and the Japan Garden Railway track at Susono, near Mishima. Normal sort of thing - Shinkansen there and back with a half-hour bus ride up the foothills of Mount Fuji to about 5000ft. Track is about 1500m of quadruple 45mm and near the same of ground level 5 inch and 3.5inch gauge ride-on stuff. Got to drive most of it, but then for most of you guys I guess that’s pretty much a usual thing, so I won’t mention it again.

Nice to be back, tho’…looking forwrad to hearing about what has been going on on Planet Earth.

Tell ya what tho’ - will be spending MUCH time in OR and ON next year, that’s a promise, or a threat.

Best wishes to all

tac, still in tokyo
Ottawa Valley GRS

PS - did I mention the Accucraft Ngg16 Garrett? I got one of them as well.

#2

We accept your “Threat”. I’ve set the alarm bells to ringing once every hour.
The Single Malt Scotch Whisky is all secured and we have changed the gauge of all railway tracks to 6 foot. Our only concern is the water supply…will it stand up to possible flames and embers ?

We are prepared...

Fr.Fred, in deep Northeastern Ontario.

#3

TAC

Good to hear the “Train” Raid over Tokyo has been a great success.

Keep those cards & letters coming in…Now you just must participate in the “Invasion Party” at Fr. Fred’s next Summer.

Remember to always leave an empty chair for those that can’t make it.

The Lone Railroader

#4
The Lone Railroader said:
TAC

Good to hear the “Train” Raid over Tokyo has been a great success.

Keep those cards & letters coming in…Now you just must participate in the “Invasion Party” at Fr. Fred’s next Summer.

Remember to always leave an empty chair for those that can’t make it.

The Lone Railroader


Dear Friend - my life has been full of empty chairs. Next year it is my most heartfelt wish to be sitting in one that was empty THIS year.

Best wishes from Tokyo, at least for a near week.

tac, ig and crow the crow - still proudly waving the maple leaf in heathen Tokyo
Ottawa Valley GRS

#5

Question is; “Will there be another Invasion” ?

#6

Ferd,
Has a date been set? Please contact a local weatherman and find out when “the Valley” will be as hot as Haitie, so we can establish the excursioin. Maybe TAC can establish a time to be in the area. Don’t tell him about the temps.

#7
Fred Mills said:
Question is; "Will there be another Invasion" ?
What do you mean, Fr. Fred?

Is a meteor/asteriod scheduled to end it all for us?

Or have the Vogels taken over “Fort Fred” and tainted the Holy Water?

Are generous donations required? I know it is costly to foot the bill alone? How much per participate is required? And can the ransom be in not-so-large, but unmarked Crappy Tire Money bills? (I’ll not pay one farthing, I tell you!)* Luckily I have Green Backs!

Other than these slight distractions, why not have it?

*Heard this in a movie once and always wanted to say it.

#8
The Lone Railroader said:
I'll not pay one farthing, I tell you
I remember my utter dismay when a couple of devoted teachers were trying to prepare me for entry to the English school system 50+ years ago. Having spent my life to that point in countries with decimal currency systems, calculations in pounds shillings pence (and farthings) were a nightmare.
#9
Ric Golding said:
Ferd, Has a date been set? Please contact a local weatherman and find out when "the Valley" will be as hot as Haitie, so we can establish the excursioin. Maybe TAC can establish a time to be in the area. Don't tell him about the temps.
Sir - please be aware of a number of relevancies -

  1. I live in Tokyo, where the mid-summer night-time temperature is around 37C with 100% humidity.

  2. I was born at 56N. It was March 2, and there was a howling blizzard outside. It lasted a week and my mom could not take me home because there was no public transport.

  3. I have live and played soldiers in the middle east for years, where the average daytime temperature was 50C, going down to 3-4C at night.

  4. I have spent time in Canada in every season, and flew out of Ottawa airport in May one year after they had cleared the wings of snow on the ramp.

  5. I have spent time in other parts of Canada where it DOES get cold - -48C or so to be precise. And Norway, where it gets just as cold.

  6. I have climbed up to Crater Lake OR in early June in between the ten foot-high snowbanks, and been snowed in, down in Grants Pass, on the same day.

I find that I can function pretty well in a T-shirt to about 5C, but after that I have to go put another one on, or wear long pants instead of shorts. Might even have to put gloves on if I’m working in the yard, but not if we are having a bar-b-Q. I didn’t mention it for fear of causing offence in some quarters, but my family in ONT grow Class AAA steak for snooty restaurants in Tronna and Oddawa, but we gets it all free. We therefore otts a lot of steak while back over.

I am not fazed by your cranky threats of weather, Sir, as I seem to have proven to be immune to most that this planet can throw at me…

I look forward to making your acquaintance at the invasion.

And for Fr Fred - I have to go back to Japan for the week of 21 to 29 July - I hope this does not just happen to coincide with any Invasion dates?

Best wishes from sunny Tokyo, now it has stopped raining.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#10

Terry,

Its not the cold, but the heat. We go north for the Invasion, to get out of the heat of the Mississippi Valley in the St. Louis area. However, we have been accused of bringing the temps with us. All the guys talk about the wonderful “Normal” temps and wonder why it is so hot the week we are there. The temps in Ottawa have equalled the temps at home almost every year. I will say the nights have been much cooler and more pleasant. We look forward to meeting you, also.

#11
Ric Golding said:
Terry, we have been accused of bringing the temps with us. All the guys talk about the wonderful "Normal" temps and wonder why it is so hot the week we are there.
You didn't bring it. Ottawa has a temp swing from -40F to 100F in any year. 2006 was remarkable only in that the high temps came earlier than usual, accompanied by too much wet.
#12

Thank you Chris, I feel vendicated by your statement. The OVGRS guys layed a giant guilt trip on us, that it was so hot and totally our fault. Since coming from the St. Louis area, it was just normal July weather with wonderful evenings to us. This coming year, I can tell them that you said it wasn’t our fault. I don’t think they will care, but we’ll tell them. :wink:

I’m not sure we weren’t blamed for the power outage and storm in North Bay, also. We thought it was just part of the adventure and entertainment they put together for us. They certainly went to a lot of trouble to entertain us and it was a much bigger adventure than we needed. ;-0

#13

Ric;

Don’t let Chris fool you. He is our resident weather “Creator”…all our weather is by request and he tries to fill our requests. Usually he does very well, sitting in his office at the far end of the hall editing whatever editors edit, and answering weather requests.
Last summer; I think it was actually very early in the year; we put in our request to Chris, for weather “That our guests from the US of A, would enjoy”.
Well as you can remember; he got a bit carried away, and when he heard of the planned excursion to North Bay, and he couldn’t come along; he just had to show his connections. (BTW, Chris has been invited to all of our “Fun Times”)

This coming year I hear he has found better control over his enthusiasm, and things will be more normal, with sunshine and moderate temperatures.

Now, Chris; about those two switches you need…

#14
Fred Mills said:
Ric;

Don’t let Chris fool you. He is our resident weather “Creator”…

Now, Chris; about those two switches you need…


Nope, you can’t blame me for the weather, Fred. It’s MOTHER Nature, remember, and nobody ain’t never called me no mother … leastways, not without an unprintable suffix.

As for the switches, I have plans for the spring … make that HOPES for the spring, since my plans tend to gang aft agley.
Mr. Murphy lives hereabouts, I think.