Ain’t it sweet? I got a flight in a B-17, 'way back when, flying borate over a forest fire. Those 4 Pratt and Whitneys made for a sweet hummmmmm. What was truly amazing was the bombing run at 250 ft AGL over the fire, sitting in the Bombardier’s seat in the nose. All four sweat pumps on line, and the pucker factor was pegged at 10.
Steve Featherkile said:
…
HJ, if you are such a purist, then why did you pollute this sacred forum with a post about a B-17 that decided to play submarine? Your britches are dirty, too…
At least my reference to aviation was about the Skytrain, which ties it into trains…
The parts of that B-17 went on a train ride - through 40 tunnels on the Albula line - on the railway I model, during the time period I model and I just so happen to have the pictures and the diagram of that move. Perfect tie-in to old bombers if one really needs to have old bombers on this forum.
On that Skytrain, how about this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver) SkyTrain (Vancouver)complete with wheels and mighty handy as a rapid transit line.
Just don’t mention the war!
Ok OK I will.
The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway on the South Coast UK was used during WW2 to patrol along the coastline for the railway’s length. The train was armoutrplated and was mounted with a variety of guns. They hot down a German bomber as well and I believe it was also strafed by an Me 109.
There… Aircraft and rail…
I envy you your flight in a B-17 .
There is only one in the UK (I believe) so the opportunity for flights is limited . Sally B is her name .
I’ve had a look around inside it and the remarkable thing is the waist gunner’s position .The young chaps who stood there in virtual open air to face down enemy fighters were brave .
Nothing between them and a 30mm nose cannon on a Me109 . Oddly , it feels safer behind glass and aluminium ; it isn’t of course , but I suppose the lads flying into danger had to have a belief to cling to and make them feel safer . They had flak jackets which impeded their movement somewhat , but it did make them feel better .
We owe them all a tremendous debt ; given some of the assholes around today , I wonder if it was worth it .
The sight of them gathering in a massive formation in a clear blue sky to fly back home to the USA was a sight to behold and never to be forgotten . I remember it well .
Mike (grateful) Brit
…and to add to the B17.
The Ball Turret Gunner’s Poem.
by Randall Jarrell published in 1945. It is about the death of a gunner in a Sperry ball turret on a World War II American bomber aircraft.
From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
Makes you think eh?..and we argue about trains and planes and their rightful place…
God help us!
Hey, didn’t mean to start a b-fest, and wasn’t trying to hog limelight (if that referred to me). Just relating happy memories of exciting occurrences. Being new here, guess I didn’t know the limits.
I did think of using that “training” joke, but someone beat me to it…
So, relating back to trains, I’m sure there were railroad lines near Carswell AFB in the 50s. So I wonder what it would be like to have a couple of 1/32 scale B-36’s sitting on the tarmac across the bob-war fence from an industrial spur in my back yard. 
No , Patrick , it referred to someone else .
You will eventually realise who .
Mike Brit
Patrick Underwood said:
Hey, didn’t mean to start a b-fest, and wasn’t trying to hog limelight (if that referred to me). Just relating happy memories of exciting occurrences. Being new here, guess I didn’t know the limits.
I did think of using that “training” joke, but someone beat me to it…
So, relating back to trains, I’m sure there were railroad lines near Carswell AFB in the 50s. So I wonder what it would be like to have a couple of 1/32 scale B-36’s sitting on the tarmac across the bob-war fence from an industrial spur in my back yard.
Supposedly that referred to me, that Brit gets a tad upset when I can dish up a real, immediate connection between old bomber and a specific railway. 
Since I model that railway I have plenty of documentation about peculiar and/or unusual transports and shipments. Most likely I could serve up similar pictures from the Swiss Federal Railways (mostly standard gauge) since I have a complete collection of their employees’ newsletter going back to the '20s.
Now if I could get my hands on a 1:22.5 model of a B-17 I would recreate that “BIG move” on the RhB.
BTW to keep up with my favourite Rhaetian Railway and exchange info with like minded people I started a forum back in 2002.
To keep up with today’s happenings (always fresh and crisp), using a popular means, I also started a Group on Facebook. 
HJ, give it a rest. You started this particular pissing contest with this post. "You got that right. OTOH it could be a small oversight of not remembering what the “General Discussion” is intended for: “Train related talk that doesn’t fit in another forum.” "
"Supposedly that referred to me, that Brit gets a tad upset when I can dish up a real, immediate connection between old bomber and a specific railway. "
How perceptive of you .
If you can read joined up English , think on this -----
The next time you’re feeling important;
The next time your ego 's in bloom;
The next time you take it for granted,
You’re the best qualified in the room:
The next time you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions,
And see how they humble your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining,
Is a measure of how much you’ll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you’ll find that in no time,
It looks quite the same as before.
The moral of this quaint example,
Is to do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself but remember,
There’s no indispensable man.
I did not compose that , but modified it slightly .
Mike Brit
Read it ?
Now , Hans , if you are man enough , it’s time this nonsense was stopped .
You started it by (as usual) jumping on the anti-Mike bandwagon with your usual cronies .
You then get yourself in a mess by saying you will not answer my posts----you clearly did not think that through considering the advantageous position that it puts me in .
You would do a lot of people a favour by stopping your continuous smartass sniping .
Your attempt at using blocking did not work .
Try using a bit of common sense , your posts by and large , when not vindictive , are quite useful .
If you choose to ignore the advice , you are a sorry specimen .
Mike Brit
PS Don’t give people the chance to say that “Mike won , Hans down”
gee, kids. Why cant we all just treat each other the way we want to be treated? I try to follow that simple rule, and when I don’t, I end up paying a price.