That pipeline was a tremendously unpopular project that went in and out of favor several times over the years, and the oil it was to transport didn't vanish, it just gets to market by truck or rail, or other pipelines instead. This "war on fossil fuels" thing reminds me of the "war on Christmas". Really good at stirring up outrage, but not much when it comes to substance. You know, eventually we will run out of oil. Not for a while yet, but it's going to happen. One faction wants to prepare for that. The other wants to "drill baby drill". Which is the best long term solution? I'll bet you that the folks who made horse drawn wagons, buggy whips, and related equipment had lots to say about the horseless carriage back in the day too. Here we are. 
That pipeline was a very small piece of a very large puzzle. Its impact is very much overrated. It does make a great talking point though. Turns out somebody somewhere figured out that if you cut the amount of solder used in assembling these things you can cut costs. The expansion and contraction in the furnace eventually gets to the solder joints and things start to happen, or in my case not happen. He came right out and had her humming in about an hour. Our house is 20 years old this year and I was sweating out the possibility of having to buy a new furnace, but I'm told I can get another 10 or so years out of this one. Wish I could get that out of a hot water heater. I'm on my third one of those. Heading off to New Orleans tomorrow for my industry's national trade show. First one since Covid. Good seafood. Gonna get me some crawdad's! 
Good that the furnace guy was available. Enjoy New Orleans a city I really really loved in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s then I got old! We were there last year and the food still is incredible. Have a shrimp or 2 for me. Enjoy your crawdadsMorning all. The temp dipped below freezing last night. Our furnace crapped out yesterday, well actually the day before, and it got just a bit chilly in the house. Luckily we have a regular furnace guy, so I didn't have to beg a stranger for a service call. Turned out to be a bad control board. Probably made in China.
Tested the Overland again Thursday. Got some more head end cars into the train. Still a few bugs in her. Some coupler issues and one car that wants to randomly derail. Keeps things interesting!
As I wrote yesterday, the pictures are back. Then I made acceptable adjustments to my contact list. The repair folks said it was a raid issue, one not talking to another. Sounded like a bad marriage but I think the tech was trying to hide the fact they don’t know why it happened and figured the techo language would overwhelm me and I’d say fine. It was under warranty so I have a feeling this wasn’t the 1st time for them.
Well now, we have found common ground here on both talking points. The cause of much of our collective concern is point 1. (Investor Pressure), and the way to distract us from Point 1 is to arouse Righteous Indignation, (Point 2 - stirring up meaningless outrage). Throw in our propensity to see a conspiracy under every partisan rock and there is a lot food for fear and loathing.
Yeah, well we have even more common ground than you think Boris. I don't suffer fools gladly and have a very low tolerance for BS which has cost me in my professional life. I get pretty cynical too, but I have some hope. Some weeks ago I got into a discussion with a group of fellows who leaned much further right than I do. We kept it civil and when it was over I had (I think) made them realize that we weren't as far apart as we are often told if we can shut off the TV and tune out the people telling us to hate the other guy. That whole "take a deep breath" thing works!Well now, we have found common ground here on both talking points. The cause of much of our collective concern is point 1. (Investor Pressure), and the way to distract us from Point 1 is to arouse Righteous Indignation, (Point 2 - stirring up meaningless outrage). Throw in our propensity to see a conspiracy under every partisan rock and there is a lot food for fear and loathing.
My cynicism views all of this as pure BS, but that raises the issue where I have this habit of innocently crossing some invisible line and become offensive, mainly because in spite of the "polish" of my university education, I'm really just another crude, deplorable, blue collar slob railroad guy...
Such is our lot in life.
Morning all. The temp dipped below freezing last night. Our furnace crapped out yesterday, well actually the day before, and it got just a bit chilly in the house. Luckily we have a regular furnace guy, so I didn't have to beg a stranger for a service call. Turned out to be a bad control board. Probably made in China.
Tested the Overland again Thursday. Got some more head end cars into the train. Still a few bugs in her. Some coupler issues and one car that wants to randomly derail. Keeps things interesting!
Not for nothing, I sort of suspected that all along...
Thanks for noticing, and for asking! No it isn’t a Milwaukee Road car. It’s a brass car imported by Coach Yard. The SP didn’t buy any domes. They converted theirs from older Daylight cars. A few of us are begging Rapido to do them, but since only the SP had them I don’t know if that will ever happen. I painted it, decaled it, scratchbuilt an interior for it and swapped out the incorrect and crappy brass trucks for Walthers trucks which are correct for the car. It appeared in Daylight livery, UP livery, silver with the red stripe and briefly in Amtrak livery. I believe the CP got a hold of one, and possibly one went to Mexico.
I spend a fair amount of time on MeTV myself. There are only about 6 modern shows I can stomach these days.
John Wayne
