Sorry, it's been a long time since I've posted anything. I wanted to make this post because I've recently become a glass insulator collector, and eventually I realized that I might be able to lend some food-for-thought here. See, most people just have simple poles without wires if they even bother with the poles, and they all look identical, full racks of insulators, maybe not even colored like insulators. I saw a article in a MRR magazine by Pelle Søeborg on trackside telegraph poles.

I need some help learning about this car. So far I've found out that firstly, Arroseuse is French and directly translates to "water car" in English. Water car Sprinkler...           Yes...           It has pipes and nozzles. So, it's a line car that sprinkles water. But why!? What is a water sprinkling car useful for!? Please educate me on this if you may.

In this project, we see a firmilliar sight: one of the tinplate cars intended for my friend. This car is beyond an affordable restoration considering its a gift, so after a idea popped into my head I asked if he minded my doing something else with the carbody than restoring it to rolling condition. After getting the OK, I did more thinking. Here's the plan. We're all firmilliar with the idea of old train cars being used as diners right? But they're always older cars than the current era as would make sense.

I picked this up at a junk shop for $12, as it was an 'unusual' item. Turns out jut like I suspected it's rather rare, and to make things even cooler it's pre-1900! The closest match I could find to my globe online is a CT Ham No. 8 globe, identical, except mine has no markings what so ever. The bubble/magnify lens is for magnifying light. If anyone knows more about my globe, or knows if these were ever implemented into inspector's lanterns, please let me know.

I have just successfully won an auction on a hi top Dietz Vesta fir the Central Vermont a Railway (C.V.Ry.)!!!!! This is the local railway closest to my house, so natually I've been searching for one for some time now. I will post pictures of it soon, for now here is a link to the listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Railroad-Lantern-Central-Vermont-Railway-/351402766030?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51d13caece&nma=true&si=8wkaGks%252BTpGC8VpOb170Fcu6lt8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Okay, you guys and gals are probably thinking "oooooh, I wonder what this is! It sounds like a movie trailer, and a bit exaggerated, but I'll look anyway because the title sounds catchy.". Well, basicly, I ordered a B&M Dietz vesta, it came today, I found the wick was the wrong size and had been sloppily trimmed, the wick tube was loose, and the fuel tank/burner assembly was not coming out. I managed to get it out using a hammer, and a skrew driver (the lantern is fine, it wasn't as nasty as it sounds, and I did try using maximum strength first).

I capture trains in film for a hobby, I guess. But what do I do with all that footage? Well, I make a production for myself called "My Local Trains". The first three weren't very well put together, but volumes 4,5, and the beggining of 6 which I just started, are pretty good. Here is the beggining of Volume 6, but not in HD like it is at home 

While running around the loop, Boston and Maine GE 44- tonner (ex-NP 628) cut out, and is stuck in neutral! With 110 out of the running, the only available power for mainline trains is the GP38-2 still undergoing a re-do, the 8304 (Rock Island), and the 2026. The 1684 is currently waiting on a tender repair, and all other locos besides the RDC car are broken down for some reason. The road needs a diesel at current, so the shop crew has decided to try repairing DT&I 8111 again.

A couple things. I sold a New York Central Dressel lantern i had been looking to sell for a while, and made $60 off of it. Then, this morning I used that money to get a railroad lantern I wanted Waaaaaaaaay more: a Boston & Maine Railroad lantern with a marked globe! Yes! It is a Deitz vesta, and is in very nice condition. I've been waiting a while for one of these to come up on ebay for a reasonable offer(less than $70). Also, my trackwork has been inching along.

A friend of my family was off at a wedding a while ago and met someone who worked on a railroad. He was shop worker I beleive. He offered to send something to me, and today I received a switch key for the Indiana Harbor Belt and a caboose whilstle. The whistle isn't too glamorous, but hey! It's cool!

This is my second gift from a railroad worker. My first was a brand new bad order tag for the Norfolk Southern.