Large Scale Central

Set your clocks back

General Discussion
#1

Wake up you lazy heads…you have to set your clocks back if you live in some parts of the civilized world…!!!

I guess I should add that a lot of my world is looking less civilized every day…but then ho could put up with me, in a truely civilized world…!!!

I guess it’s a sign that I better pump the pond down, before it freezes, then I’m free to go into my 10 weeks of hibernation, and unconscious planning for next springs’ maddness on the IPP&W.

Note that this was posted at approximately 06:12, EST, on Sunday October 29th. A bit late, but I was passed out at the 02:00 time suggested as the start of standard time in the Eastern time zone.

Some people cheat and set their clocks back before retiring (For the night), but I tried that when I retired and it seemed that I became lost in a battle to find out what time zone I was trying to fit into. Retirement can cause all kinds of adjustments to be needed. I didn’t need another.

By the way; this fits into the general idea of this being a railroad oriented forum, by pointing out that Standard time was a very much needed part of railroad operations. Standard time was aided very much by a Canadian by the name of Sandford Fleming; if my memory serves me in any inteligent way at this time of the day. I even think he might have been known as “Sir”.
In any case you can look it up on Google, and set me straight if you care to.

#2

Ah, yes; It was Sir Sandford Fleming, who instigated the initial effort that led to the adoption of the present time meridians in both The Dominion of Canada, and the United States of America. Time zones were first used by the railroads in 1883 to standardize their schedules.

There; the old grey cells have come through. I at first posted the name, Alexander Fleming. He was the fella that helped to discover Penecilen (Spelling), and was in Canada when he did that, but was a Brit by birth, and a research scientist.

Sir Sandford Fleming was a Canadian civil, and railway engineer.

Standard time was adopted by the large railway systems in The Dominion of Canada and the United States of America, at noon on November 18th, 1883.
It was many years before such time was actually used by the people themselves.

Sandford Fleming is shown in pictures of the driving of the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was at the time, a director with that company.

#3

And how do you assign these 10 weeks of hibernation? Is that every other week between now and April 1st or two weeks here and two weeks there? I might suggest that htis year just refuse to do it. Stay up and enjoy all the wonders of nature. The midnight nude moon dances in January should be very invigorating, plus might make the local news if not the international news. As far as draining the pond down, I believe there is a lady in your part of the world that has chosen to do otherwise. Her name is Mrs. Paul or something like that. Through another log in the Chimnia and fight off those desires of worthless sleep. It will not serve you well.

As far as changing time, that’s the great thing about clocks and watches, you can push a button or rotate a dial and make it any time you want it to be. As far as those atomic clocks, that always have the correct time, Andy C has been fighting one of those for weeks. He’s always asking people what time it is as he tries to figure out how to set what time zone he is in. I told him he was in the state of denial, but he refused to accept that also.

#4

Fred et al,

I’d like mine set back to … hmmmmmmmmmmmm … yes, there’s the dilemma!

Now, as for hibernation, I leave that to the marmots and bears. Almost 06:30 here, light enough to see to the top of the mountain to the Southeast … oh what a JOY, snow at the top!!

This is what I counted on last night. Told everyone at the coaches training session to be up at midnight and do the Snow Dance (not to be confused with the Slow Dance). Hey it worked!

#5

Hans;

You and I are at cross purposes here. You seem to want snow in order to tempt fate by trying to kill yourself on a snow covered hill; while I on the other hand don’t want snow which I would have to shovel and tempt fate with the fact that shovelling might cause a heart attack.
Worse still; I might slip and fall on ice, and paralize myself. So…

…you go and do your "Snow Dances in Greenland, while I’ll do my sundances here.

We can meet here in the summer, after I have hibernated during the bit of snow that will come even without your dances. and you can break every bone in your body and return on crutches and braces, to operate trains here in the Summer.

In any case; I do hope that any breaks or strains will not affect your writting hand…it is great to be greeted by your scibbling on anything “Railroadish”, in the mornings of my lonely weeks. Even when you and Mike, or Zimmey, get going on subjects like the sex life of a Zibra Mussel, or the pros and cons of weathering upside down in a Afgan style spraybooth; I’ll still enjoy your combined scribbling.

You must drop in here for a pint this winter. I can interupt one of the weeks of hibernation just to thaw out a pint or four of good ale, and there is the Malt Whisky collection.
Wouldn’t it be a grand day, if Zimmey, Mike, and you could meet me here at the Pub Italia, for a number of pints of good bheer, or ale. Afterwhich we could chase the whole thing down the sluce with a number of fingers of good Malt Whisky.

We would need old/young Bobby, our genlemanly hoast to be with us to document the whole affair wth his pencil and paper.

Stay warm my young friend…

#6

Ric…

When reffering to a “Mrs. Paul”…or some woman in conjunction with a pond…I don’t think you mean that sorry example of a Governer General, we have been subjected to…or is it. Is she trying to keep them from lowering the water in the Gulf of Mexico, or does she actually mean that she wants it lowered so her kinfolks in Haiti can walk over to the USofA, and squat there…?(Or is that twit’s name “Jean”)

Or is this “Mistress Paul” some other back to nature thingy, who just wants to give us a rough old time… ?

#7

Fred,

That’s the beauty of the North Okanagan, snow on the mountains for skiing and hardly any snow to shovel in the valley.
I don’t like shovelling snow. either. 30 years of Ontario winters was enough for me!

On that beer or whatever drinking idea, that would be a lop-sided affair, I just don’t drink much, other than tea and other such benign stuff. :wink: :slight_smile: OTOH I always get a kick out of watching the progressive inebriation process, brings out all kinds of “qualities”. :wink: :slight_smile: :smiley:

#8

The Pub Italia will supply you with tea…young Ken Brunt often has enjoyed the atmospher of the place with us, and only consumed tea…iced or otherwise.
You might even allow yourself to enjoy the pub’s eclectic decore…definately not a common sports bar or run of the mill dump.

With their 35 or so draft taps, and over 200 varieties of bheers and ales in bottles and cans; you might even find a beverage that touches your heart, as long as your health and religious conditions allow it…IN MODERATION of course.

Hans…not all gentlemen allow themselves to become enibriated…some enjoy a pint or two, and are known to enjoy alcoholic beverages in moderation. (Even Ric…!!!)

I would never suggest that you should take part in any gathering of common people, to just get drunk and act stupid.

The Pub Italia is know for it’s fine Italian style menue, and also has a fine selection of coffee.

I’m sure Mikey, and young Zimmey; would be willing to hold your hand and introduce you to the comforts of good companionship, in a fine pub setting.

I’d be more than willing to “Be Mother”, and pour your cuppa. Would you require a china cup and saucer, or will a good stout warmed mug do the trick ?

I’ll bring some of my B’man On30 models and a selection of AMS cars and a B’mann Large Scale Connie to set on the bar, for railroad atmosphere. I can also have Joe, the barkeep put up a fine selection of rail pictures; framed and behind glare-proof glass, of course.

All settled then…now to get the date set…must not interfere with the times of your tow tickets at the slopes…or the time of arrival of the Via Rail train from out West…then I’ll have to check on Zimmies’ and Mikes flight arrivals…
…oh yes…we can book tow tickets for you up on the ski slopes North of Ottawa…just hills mind you, but it might serve while you are here, and less likely to have you get injured.

Looking forward to your positive responce…I’m sure Mikey and Zimmie will like the idea. !!!

Fr.Fred
#9

Fred,

I really like Italian cooking, I even drink bheer (in moderation), but I have to disappoint you on the skiing bit. Not for me to get towed up the hill or, just as bad (if not worse!), sit on the chairlift.

No Siree, I got up and down the hills - and across the flats - on my own power. My goal for the past three winters has been to manage the 5.5km from the lodge to the top of the trail in 31-32 minutes. All of that happens on “Narrow Gauge” aka cross country skis. :wink:

#10

Ah then there is hope for you…we just have to “Learn” ya, to take your time, and live longer…slow down…no NG’er will ever want to travel fast It’s the trip that counts, not the speed…

I’ll reserve a trail for you in Gatineau Park…!!!

We can strap a pair of skis, under Mikey's chair, and Zimmie can push......I'll pull......just for the before dinner thrills......!!!!!

Fr.Fred

#11
Fred Mills said:
I'd be more than willing to "Be Mother", and pour your cuppa. Would you require a china cup and saucer, or will a good stout warmed mug do the trick ?
How 'bout a good mug of stout, and forget the warmed. Though in truth, I never cottoned on to stout meself. My father, a cunning man, made sure that I wouldn't be seduced by bheer at too tender an age by giving me a glass of Italian pilsner. Can't remember how old I was, but a couple of bitter tastes, and I stayed away from bheer until I was of legal age years later. Cider, on the other hand ... That being Italy, we children were allowed the occasional glass of watered vino with meals. Quite normal for the time and place.
#12

Fred ,
I would have thought that , with typical Canadian Ingenuity , you could provide a pair of caterpillar type tracks for my chair giving me the chance to tow everyone around on skis . 'course , my chair might not work in the low temperatures there , so I may have to have a small log fire under the seat with the batteries to keep them warm . Ah , the smell of hot bacon in the snow when my bum catches fire . Perhaps we could put Whisky in the batteries instead , and drink it when we finish travelling . I might sneak a drink of it on the way , though , which may prove fatal .
Problems , problems , the smell of bacon could wake the hinebi—hibita—hibnerat—sleeping grizzlies .This needs serious thought .
Mike

#13
Mike Morgan said:
Fred , I would have thought that , with typical Canadian Ingenuity, you could provide a pair of caterpillar type tracks for my chair giving me the chance to tow everyone around on skis. 'course , my chair might not work in the low temperatures there , so I may have to have a small log fire under the seat with the batteries to keep them warm . Ah , the smell of hot bacon in the snow when my bum catches fire. Perhaps we could put Whisky in the batteries instead , and drink it when we finish travelling . I might sneak a drink of it on the way , though , which may prove fatal . Problems , problems , the smell of bacon could wake the hinebi---hibita---hibnerat---sleeping grizzlies .This needs serious thought . Mike
The chair would be no problem, thanks to M. Bombardier; how fast do you want to go? As for the grizzlies, they inhabit HJ's territory. Mind you, the local black bears might consider you a delicacy, even raw. We've tried sating their appetite by feeding them on pollyatishuns, but the bears turn up their noses. Too offal even for a hungry bear!
#14

Don’t know that there’s any grizzlies up HJ’s way either. I’m but a stone’s throw from him and all we have are blacks and browns. Most of them are too lazy to cause much problems…except ransacking the dumpsters. Now if Mike plans on coming out West he’s probably going to need Mr. Bombardier’s aqua version of his contraption. The big word around here this winter is El Nino. That means us lowlanders will get lots of rain while the slat sliders have a merry time in the hills. Nah, Mike’ll get homesick around here. I think we are in for the London drizzles this winter…:frowning:

Warren

#15

Look , you guys , let’s not split hairs .
I am but an Englishman , our local fauna stretch to Horses at the largest , and they are not carnivores .
A bear is a bear , grizzly , brown , black , they don’t get that size just munching cranberries and blueberries , otherwise Maurice’s plantation down in
Lousy Annie would be overrun with them .
Bears eat people . Simple . That’s why not many people live at the North Pole , they’s all bin et . By bars , big white ‘uns .
When we were vacationing around the White Pass Railway area , we met bears that had just woke up , they blocked the road a couple of times ,
they wuz black , large (as tall as the ve-hicle we wuz in , a large peeple carrier ) and they could run , even if only half awake .
So , I’ll take one of Bombardier’s Armoured Personnel Carriers , you arrange for the fitting of tracks on that , and all will be fine .
Meantime , I got a mess o’ moddlin’ to do , ‘twas my birthday yesterday , an’ I struck it rich . WOW , did I !!!
Mike

#16

Happy hatch day, Mikey, me lad…glad to hear of your richness…

#17

To heck with “Split hairs” or other malarky…who said anything about meeting up North, or anywhere near bear country. I didn’t even mention places like “Winterpeg”, “Blunder Bay”, YahooKon", Churchs’ Hill" or even “Bell’s Corners” (BC).

I was suggesting a calm, and warm place; heated by argumentive Politicos, and ferilized with their worthless BS…Ottttttttawawa.

Right here; the home of "The Pub Italia". Even young Deryck, on his bed of pain, knows of the place and can write lines of prose; praising the place to the heavens.

No bears/bares here, worth whizzing with. In fact you would be hard pressed to even fine need to bare yourself anywhere near here for a “Bear Whizzzz” commercial.

We even have a Bombardier “O” train waiting to transport Mikey from “Nowhere” to “Somewhere” close to the Pub.

Considering that today is young Mikey’s hatch day; I’m making great pains to roll down to the Pub Italia, and finding sanctity, within it’s hallowed walls; will hear confessions from noon untill 17:00. I will then take some sort of pleasure in pouring a stiff 10 fingers of Sleeman’s Honey Brown, past my gizzard; chasing it with at least a garrison of 4 fingers of fine Laphroaig Single Malt; in his honour. I’m sure that Zimmey and others will do likewise in places of their choice.

I have the use of “Joe’s Confessional” at the pub, whenever the need arises, and today is surely one of those days.

On the bar; I will make sure there is a railroad presentation of several B’mann, and LGB bheer cars; just to give Railroad content to this thread, and to remind all confessors, of the need to be railroaded at least once each day.

BRANCH RAILROADIANISM FOREVER....long live young Mikey.
#18
Fred Mills said:
................................................... Considering that today is young Mikey's hatch day; I'm making great pains to roll down to the Pub Italia, and finding sanctity, within it's hallowed walls; will hear confessions from noon untill 17:00. I will then take some sort of pleasure in pouring a stiff 10 fingers of Sleeman's Honey Brown, past my gizzard; chasing it with at least a garrison of 4 fingers of fine Laphroaig Single Malt; in his honour. I'm sure that Zimmey and others will do likewise in places of their choice.

I have the use of “Joe’s Confessional” at the pub, whenever the need arises, and today is surely one of those days.

…

BRANCH RAILROADIANISM FOREVER....long live young Mikey.</blockquote>

Fred,

hehehe good one!

Perhaps I’ll make it to Ottawa on a return trip from Europe. :wink: :slight_smile: :wink:

Mike,

Happy Birthday!

Time to update your profile

mike m said:
Age 69 , still trying to grow up .

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Warren,

The odd Grizzly has been sighted (not counting the twolegged variety!).
On your rain, yes, pity isn’t it. I guess your XC racers will spend more time than they do already training up here. :slight_smile: :wink: :slight_smile:

#19

Guess I opened my mouth too soon. IT ^%$#*@ SNOWED LAST NIGHT! Not much, but it snowed…:frowning:

As for critters, what appears to be making a comeback in our area is wolves…:frowning:

I guess there is something to be said about global warming. Our winters have been getting milder and milder. The mountains still get snow, but we’ve had very little in the past 10 years. In fact my grass stays green all winter. During the winters we’ve been getting drizzly rains for months on end with the temp hanging just above freezing. Most miserable weather I can think of.

I’m gonna pay no never mind to that bunch of Eastern sissies…afraid of a few lil ole barz. But I’m sure we could come up with some corntrapshun for Mikey’s chair. Get him out next to real nature. That’ll invigorate him…:smiley: Oh, by the way Happy B’day!

City Slickers…sheesh!

Warren

#20
Warren Mumpower said:
I'm gonna pay no never mind to that bunch of Eastern sissies....afraid of a few lil ole barz.
Never diss a critter wot's bigger'n you, faster'n you and stronger'n you, with nasty big claws and teeth. Ever' so offen a bahr swim across da rivier from Kebec. Usually git herded back withut harm to bahr or wot passes fer hoomin 'round 'ere. Wulfs up dere in Kebec, too. As fer reel nacher, plenny of it 'eerabuts. Ain't much sivvilizashun twixt Ottawa an' da Norpole.