Trains and Mr. Winkle…

Tracy told me tonight that the most boring thing for her would be to sit on a cold bench all morning and wait for and watch trains pass.

“What do you get out of it?” Tracy asked mystified.

“I’ve always been fascinated with trains ever since I was a little boy,” I told her in justification.

I am enjoying my extra time away from volunteering and spent the morning looking at trains in downtown West Point. I told Tracy just to look in the computer room at my massive collection of Trains, Railroad Model Craftsman and Model Railroader magazines. I told her I was a dedicated fan.

“I’ve actually worn out Model Railroaders I’ve perused them so much,” I told Tracy. “They would fall apart.”

“Does that explain the stack of Model Railroaders in the bathroom?” she asked.

I laughed and said yes.

“I will read on the toilet until my legs go numb and I can’t get up.”

Tracy laughed, sighed and rolled her eyes.

Well, I came home from rail fanning to take a very long nap and slept until about time for Tracy to get here which meant pretty much all day. We had beefy tacos tonight – something easy to fix and they were delicious. I don’t care much for Mexican seasonings used in those taco seasoning packs. I fixed my savory beef filling with a bottle of A1 sauce and Tracy really liked it. You have to boil the ground chuck for a good thirty minutes to get it good and tender after adding a medium sized bottle of A1 and a good dash of salt.

It Never Fails…

I was sitting on my bench behind the bank waiting for trains this morning. A mangy looking old fellow with a wild looking beard came walking down the tracks. I couldn’t put out my cigarette fast enough. I was too late, though. He had seen me smoking. He made a beeline right to where I was sitting.

“Hey man,” he said to me. “Could I borrow a few smokes?”

I gave him three cigarettes and he continued on into downtown. He didn’t even tell me thanks.

“You have a good one,” is all he said to me.

I don’t know what the lure is to me as far as the tracks are concerned, but I do know it is cathartic to me. I love to read a new issue of Model Railroader magazine while I smoke, drink sodas, and wait. To sit there and watch the signal go from green to yellow and then to red brings forth a great deal of excitement. 

The Fabulous Franklin and South Manchester...

Comment Replies...

Blogger glittermom said...

What happened to the plans for your train set up in the spare room?

Andrew Replied...

Jimmy James was going to tear out the closet to make it a square room, but it was going to be expensive. We were also going to have to tear out the windows. Dad axed the idea saying my house is too small and he also told me to wait for a more opportune time financially. I really had high hopes for a train room so I could build my Chattahoochee Valley Railway empire. Model Railroading is also an extremely expensive hobby and I am participating vicariously through the magazines I get every month. I will have to put up photos of some of the models I've painted and weathered sometime.

My Atlas Marker...

This is how I want my model railroad to look. Especially, the weathering on the locomotives. I also want to use some more realistic, greener and brighter scenery effects. 

The Hamster is in His Wheel...

This is how I want my front facia to look. The other two photo with the darkened valences are nice as well.

U-Boats...

This was the railroad of my youth until they merged with CSX.

Did Our Charlie Abandon Us?

Every car that rode by the house this morning, Maggie would fly through our home to land on the couch and look out the window. Charlie was running rather late and is was worrying the MagDawg. Charlie finally came slowly pulling up to the curb in dad's truck around 10 AM. Maggie put on a fine show despite not being very familiar with the Ford.

"Did Jimmy James show up yesterday?" Charlie asked me at he handed the Magster's and my breakfast. "He said he would be here yesterday."

"I haven't seen him yet," I replied to Charlie rather despondently.

"That son of a bitch," Charlie replied. "I am going to jerk a knot in his head."

I was super happy when I realized we had bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits this morning. I am nursing a giant Coca-Cola as I write this as well.

Hopefully, A Quiet Day Ahead...

The awesome and rare BL-2 locomotive...

Let's make this home tranquility base today.

-----------------------------------------------

Brass locomotives are extremely costly.

My father has no qualms when I ask for train related orders from Walther's. I can even order them from home as long as I clear them by my father first, but he absolutely hates me ordering computer parts. It makes me scratch my head in confusion. I enjoy both hobbies very much.

"Oh, you just tear those computers up tinkering with them and then you need a new one," he told me recently.

I don't argue with him as I know it is a fruitless endeavor. He is like a stubborn old mule on those regards.

Not a BLT, but a BL-2...

Today's model railroading project is ordering some new undecorated engines and painting them later on in Chattahoochee Valley livery. My fleet is really growing. I also had to order some new custom decals today.

Bobby Burgers Delight...

My father gave me a big surprise tonight. You know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach right? That certainly applies to me as well. Dad brought bobby burgers or more widely known as Manwiches. He cooks them from scratch saying the stuff in the can tastes funny and has a twang.

One important thing I've noticed about my father lately is that he is no longer drinking all that wine. The boozy visits have ceased. He was playing with hell-fire with a family history of Uncles and Aunts on both sides of his family who were all severe alcoholics. My fall from grace would have been several years ago if I tried that stunt.

Pluses and Minuses...




The photo above is how far along I want to be in two or a few more months. I want to have the benchwork up and the trains rolling.

Charlie called me tonight just after my father left.

"Did Jimmy James ever show up?" Charlie asked.

Charlie was fixing to come over and see his handiwork.

"He never showed," I told Charlie -- his aggravation apparent. "I stayed close to home hoping he would be here any moment."

"He's a pain in the ass, but he sure does damn good work!"

Let Them Eat Cake....

That's what Maggie told me tonight in dog lingo. Let them eat cake. The first thing on tonight's agenda is to get lots and lots of bananas. Kroger was sold out last week and the lady assured me they didn't have any back in the storage area (I went and looked anyway breaking the rules). ONLY EMPLOYEES PAST THIS POINT.

You all know what I want next is two pies -- Edwards lemon meringue pie and Hershey's chocolate creme pie. I am certainly a nutritionist's worst nightmare.

A Grand Adventure...

My father had all four grandkids over this weekend and he looks like he had been wrung through the wringer today. Dad is a clean freak and I have never seen his house in such disarray. I woke him up when I knocked on the back door tonight. He was laying on the couch recuperating.

"We're buying groceries tonight, right?" he asked.

"I will do fine if you just stay home," I told him hopefully. "You are tired. You won't have to worry one bit."

"I've got to give you your medications anyway so I better come with you," my father said disappointingly.

Aw Shucks! I tried!

Birth of the Chattahoochee Valley Model Railway...

http://www.ebay.com

Charlie is taking a half day from work tomorrow to help me get ready for his nephew, Jimmy James. I've already got my computers and all my computer gear moved into the bedroom and spent most of yesterday marveling over all the junk I've accumulated these past 8 years I have lived here. We need to move the rest or put it in storage in Charlie's basement. Jimmy James comes Wednesday to begin tearing out the closet in what used to be my computer room.

Let's Get This Alco RS-1 Looking Good...

The CHV bought this Alco RS-1 locomotive to help build West Point Dam carrying rocks, cement, sand, and such.

The Man With A Black Shirt As Dark As Night...

I was going to greatly surprise my father tonight. I made my most sincere and best efforts to do so. I took a shower, put on some nice clothes, cleanly shaved my scruffy face, and straightened up the house all the while freshening things up with some Febreze air freshener.

Charlie's car came pulling up to the curb around 7:45 PM as I walked out to help bring in all the food and sodas. Wouldn't it be my luck that all my tiresome efforts were met only by Charlie's ever watchful eye? My father had something to do with my sister and the Grand Kids. Charlie was also more interested in my trash and not my composure and togetherness in this matter. Bless Charlie anyway for bringing me supper and cleaning the kitchen. I will try again tomorrow night when my father arrives for the medication ritual.

Chattahoochee Valley Railway Modeling...

Jimmy James, Charlie's nephew, will be here next week to tear out the train room closet. Charlie says he is a goofball and a pain in the ass but does damn good work. They bicker like siblings.

Tonight's project is painting an undecorated SW1500 locomotive in CHV livery -- the mainstay locomotive many years for the CHV.

My Next Weathering Project...

This is going to be my next adventure in Model Railroading which is weathering a boxcar similar to this one I found on the web. 

My Model Railroad Project Tonight...

This undecorated GP30 locomotive is going to soon see some new livery. I am painting it in the Chattahoochee Valley Ry. paint scheme.  The GP stands for general purpose and the 30 stands for 3000 horsepower.

It Tastes Mediciney...

I just called my father and left a message...

Good morning! I hope you are okay. Would you please put out my Cokes so that they will be cold when I come and get them? I hope things are pleasant and that you have something neat to do today. Your porkchops and rice were exquisite last night.

Dad also gave me some spicy cheese straws that my cousin Jean made and they were delicious as well.

I really need my medications this morning, but I was too much of a chicken shit to ask -- too much of a wimp. I've got the jitters and feel as if I am about to jump out of my skin. That could all be cured within one hour of taking my medications. I need to grow a serious backbone. The thought of waiting till tonight is almost unbearable.

Subsequent Call -- The Godfather Calls Back...

"Hey Chuck!" my father said in a very chipper and good mood. "I am putting your Cokes out. I am doing laundry right now to give me something to wear at work next week."

"Do you think we could maybe take my medications?" I asked with great trepidation and hope.

"Let's wait until 5 PM," my father replied. "We need to get back on schedule."

"Yeah, I've just gotten used to taking them earlier in the day this week."

Damn!

Well, at least that is better than waiting until 9 PM tonight -- count your blessings. The only real minus to taking my medications early is that Maggie misses seeing my father every night. I always take them over at my father's house.

On a Very Good and Inspiring Note...

We are moving closer to building the Chattahoochee Valley Model Railway in my computer room which will soon become the model train room. The computers will go into my bedroom after moving some furniture around. I inherited a little money from mom and it is going to be used for my model railroading dream.

Charlie stopped by this morning and looked at my closet in the computer room. I want to tear it out and make room for a model railroading empire. That will give me a completely square room to work with. We are also going to have to tear the windows out and put up dry wall or at least cover them so the horizon of the room will be seamless and curved in the corners. I will have to paint the clouds and the sky with my airbrush.

"I'll get my nephew, Jimmy James, to stop by and look at it," Charlie said excitedly. "It shouldn't be that expensive. Jimmy James is an asshole, but he does excellent work."

The Days of Christmas Past...

I would have to say my most exhilarating holiday was when a got a train set for Christmas. My neighbor, Todd, had a train layout in his basement and I was captivated. I was so ecstatic after picking it out of the Sears catalog (remember those?). Mom acted like it was too expensive, but I kept my hopes up. I thought Christmas day would never get here -- the days passing by at a snail's pace.

We had to eat Christmas dinner in god's country, Waverly, with my grandmother and her two sisters as we did every Christmas. My father about couldn't tear me away from my train set. This led to my discovery of the very endearing magazines Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. I was forever hooked on model trains.

Rod Stewart takes in Franklin's A-Train...

Rockstar and model railroader Rod Stewart took a tour of George Sellios' HO scale Franklin & South Manchester model train layout

Both Rod Stewart and George Sellios' have had their model train layouts featured in Model Railroader magazine. The two model railroaders finally got to meet when the rock start visited Sellios' HO scale Franklin & South Manchester in Peabody, Mass. Read this article about the visit from The Salem News.

A local television station in Peabody also interviewed Sellios about the visit. Watch the video.

¿Es hambre de México?

Viva La Mexico

Like clockwork on a Tuesday evening,  my mother just called me and told me she was bringing me my usual Mexican meal this evening.

"Thank you!" I replied sincerely and heartfelt as I always do.

The Magster and I were just laying in the bed "chilling" as I call it. Maggie was grooming herself diligently as I lay on my side and read this month's edition of Model Railroader magazine. I've gotten bitten by the model railroading bug really badly once again and I am catching up on all my past issues of my magazines I haven't read. Why did I have to pick two of the most expensive hobbies to get involved with such as model railroading and computers?

"Is Mrs. Sandra coming to pick you up?" I asked my mother warily.

"Your daddy just called and asked me the same thing," my mother said huffily. "I think I can drive fine to the Mexican restaurant. It only just a few miles from the house. Your daddy told me that if I had another accident driving then I am not going to be able to drive anymore."

"Remember, it is going to be very dark tonight when you eat as the time has changed," I told my mother.

"Hell, mom, I can barely drive at night and you are double my age," I then said to my mother worriedly.

She blew loudly out of frustration just like a petulant child and told me that maybe I was right.

If mom's memory would serve her correctly, then she would remember falling into the bushes at the restaurant when she drove there a few months ago. Her ending drive to the restaurant to be exact.

Waiting On Sunrise...

https://www.diapers.com

My body decided to wake up at a very dark 6am this morning. My eyes felt like they were burning from lack of sleep. I also woke up to this extreme feeling of vertigo in my pitch black bedroom. I fumbled around and finally found my bedside lamp and turned it on without knocking it off my bedside table.

Maggie actually woke me first by howling/baying in her sleep which is a haunting and wanton sound like those of mourning doves.

I am hoping I will get sleepy again after eating a modest breakfast. So far, we are munching on some unfrosted strawberry Pop-Tarts and drinking a big icy cold glass of milk. The cold milk is like heaven on earth quenching my thirst. Lately, Charlie's been showing up about 10am with our McDonald's biscuits so I hope I am not ruining my appetite.

The grand Poo-Bah is back in town (Papa). I haven't had a chance to see him yet, though. Even after a week long soiree in Florida on the beach, last night he had to go to a class reunion -- the class of 1964. I kept hoping he would stop by on his way home.

My idea of a vacation is some quiet time spent on my idle pursuits like farting around with my computers and completing some of my model railroading projects. Not a drive to Florida to spend a week socializing and then coming home to a fancy frou frou class reunion. I felt exhausted just hearing my mother talk about it last night on the phone. She couldn't have done it either. Each to his own I guess.

Speaking of my mother, she is just reeling from having her Xanax dosage halved.

"What if my panic attacks start up again?" was what she asked me on the phone.

There were a lot of things I could have done wrong this past week that I handled the right way like an adult. I hope my father recognizes this and I get some acknowledgment or maybe even some praise. It never hurts to give an "attaboy" to those that you love.

Well, sunlight is now on the horizon, so lets me get a shower, get dressed, and start my day.