Weekend Steam: Isle of Man Steam Railway

PhillipGriffin1234's notes from his YouTube post: "The Isle of Man Steam Railway is a truly delightful line, the only surviving part of the Isle of Man Steam network, that runs from Douglas in the east to Port Erin in the south west of the Island. Unlike preserved railways as we know them, the Isle of Man Steam Railway is still 'State Operated' with fully paid staff. Essentially it's a 'proper' railway, equally at home carrying holidaymakers or commuters.

The whole system was closed in 1966 and after a brief revival by Marquess of Ailsa, the lines (except the Douglas to Port Erin line) ceased to operate. The railway as we know it today was nationalised in 1978. Today it's doing well with four trains each direction a day (five during the TT race season) However it does not operate in the winter season. The line is operated entirely by Beyer Peacock 2-4-0s with the exception of 15 'Caledonia', a Dubs 0-6-0.

The video was taken over a period of a few days, from both the lineside and on the train. Engines running included
No.10 G.H.Wood in the Apple Green livery of the 'Ailsa' period, and No.12 Hutchinson in the traditional Red livery. No.13 Kissack also made an appearance on our final day of filming."



I was hooked on this one when the steam came swirling out at the beginning of the video. I thought I smelled hot steam cylinder oil!

Crankin' Up Someone Else's Victrola

Pale Moon is a record belonging to a friend, and it is played on his Victrola. He just had the tone head rebuilt, and it sounds good, but the spring makes some rumbles. Fritz Kreisler is elegant, as usual.

e-Postal Deadline Coming Up!

Your e-Postal targets must be sent to JIMMYB the CUG by Midnight on April 30.  Click here to read the rules and to download your target.

Passing Things On

This peony in the Wife's flower garden was in bloom last week, and I am glad I took a few photos, because the recent storms have cleaned it of blossoms.  This peony came from Fannie and Rose Gilbert, of Washington, Iowa.  Fannie passed away in 1963, and her sister Rose died in 1960.  They both reached the ripe old age of 87.

This tintype shows us a young Fannie...

and this photograph shows us Rose.

Rose went to college, and was a school superintendent in Kansas, but we have some photos showing that she visited the home place west of Washington, and she moved back to the farm when she retired.  Fannie never left home, and she helped her brother George manage the 120 acre farm. They had two more brothers and one other sister, who was the only sibling that married.

They moved into town in their later years, and my mother and dad rented their farm.  We have another picture of Rose as a young lady, and she has her hair up on top of her head, the same as in this photo.

I think they would be glad to see that someone is keeping this peony and remembering them.  

Dave Spaulding Is Back!

From Ruger's YouTube writeup: "Dave's back with more Ruger Tactical Carbine Tips.
In this episode Spaulding shows you how to clear your carbine as fast as possible and get it back on target."

Clearing jams is an important skill, whether you are a casual shooter, competive, or if you carry a gun for protection, or in your job.  When you are at the range with your .22 pistol, run a few magazines of your pistol's least favorite ammo at the end of your session so you will have some practice.  My mother does this, and she can clear her 22/45 fast and get right back to shooting.   You can too, so work on this skill every time you are at the range.

Inspiration For Monday Morning!

Back To The Old  Bigger, Better, Humongous, Super-Duper Grind!

Not My Victrola

BSGS98 posted this delightful, jazzy number just a few hours ago.  His notes:

"Dapper Dan

Words by Lew Brown

Music by Albert Von Tilzer
Yerkes' Master Saxophonists
Vocal chorus by Arthur Hall
Puritan 11075
Recorded October 1921
Harry A Yerkes lead several musical groups during the transition of ragtime to jazz between 1917 and 1924 for the Columbia label. Some of the groups he organized and recorded included Yerkes Marimbaphone Band, Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra, Yerkes' Bellhops, the Novelty Five and the Happy Six. Some of the talented musicians in his groups included, Ted Fio Rito, Rudy Wiedoeft, and George Hamilton Green."

Weekend Steam

The summer tourist season will be here before you know it. This video was uploaded by OregonParks, and their description follows:

"Scenes from Steam Locomotive #19 from McEwen Station to the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area. This is a great way to see changed landscape that the Sumpter Valley dredges left behind.
For more information on Sumpter Valley Railway:

http://www.svry.com/index.html

For more information on Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area:

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_239.php"

Crankin' It Up

Home Sweet Home is a Nineteenth Century song that was very popular during the Civil War. Elsie Baker (1883-1971) recorded this old favorite on January 15, 1914.

Pain In The Glass

We went touring a few weeks ago, and as we motored through Marion, Illinois, a tiny rock flipped up by the car ahead of us nailed a spot on the windshield.  It took out a chip, and two cracks started moving out; one going up, and one going down.  Luckily, we happened upon an auto parts store in two blocks, so we eased into the parking lot, went in the store and bought a windshield repair kit.  These kits consist of a tube of cyanoacrylate glue, and an application system to put it into the crack to stop it from spreading.  After carefully wiping off the glass you apply a pad with adhesive on both sides, and the base for a syringe.

 Squeeze most of the glue out of the tube into the base, and then apply suction with the syringe for at least ten minutes.  The partial vacuum pulls air out of the cracks so the glue can migrate in.

Remove the syringe and pull the plunger to the top of the barrel, then put it back on the base and push the plunger down to the catch.  This step applies pressure to the glue to give it a push into the bottom of the cracks, and you are supposed to let it stand for about twenty minutes.  Remove the syringe and base, then use the remaining glue on the top of the crack.  Let it sit in the sun for a while to cure, and you are done. 

We have used these kits on other cracks, and we generally have been successful in saving the windshield.  Even if it doesn't work, you will only be out around ten bucks, and will save hundreds if it works.