Tinplate or Hi-rail? Yes!

[Rico]

Hey that polar bear actually has a prototype!
In Winnipeg there are big cement polar bear statues that get painted all different colors and shipped around the city, could be one on a flatcar... who knows?

 

[Guy64]

Thank you for that explanation, Rico!

Of course! That's not a live polar bear, it's an oversize prop for some... uh... promotional scheme for... mm... ice cream sandwiches?

Iceberg lettuce?

Meanwhile, back at the gates, one wise operator uses the time between trains to read the instructions...

 

[Guy64]

This one seems to be concerned that there's no fred on this tofc consist...

 

[Guy64]

Here we see the "One-Two" effect. The girl in charge has seen to it that Bossy is off the track in plenty of time. There isn't a train in sight, but Bossy is well out of the way. Classic type #1 technique. The girl in the striped top seems to be dissatisfied with that approach, revealing probable type #2 frustration...

"You're s'posed to wait for a train! Next time, I push the button!!"

 

[Guy64]

This one needed a bit of coaching, but eventually he earned the "Atta-boy!" cheer.

Bossy is saved once more...

 

[Guy64]

As was mentioned already, this latest batch of pix was shot while also keeping Louie the Loader supplied with barrels to load. It was essential to keep his ramp stocked up so that situations like this would be prevented.

"Uh, please don't reach over the layout. Thank yoooo..."

 

[diburning]

Hey that polar bear actually has a prototype!
In Winnipeg there are big cement polar bear statues that get painted all different colors and shipped around the city, could be one on a flatcar... who knows?

That polar bear is also the logo for the Polar Beverage Company in Worcester, MA which receives shipments by rail, and do have large inflatable polar bears that look like that.

 

[Guy64]

Thanx, Eric. If that bear gets any more prototypical, we may need to feed him.

It might distract people from "helping" with Louie's barrel supply.

"Please don't... Oh heck, where's that taser?"

 

[Guy64]

There's something about Louie the Loader that really draws people in, even though there's no button for the viewer to push. People just love to stand there and watch the little red forklift go back and forth, back and forth.

I sometimes wonder if the inventor of this accessory dabbled in hypnotism, such is the effect on so many...

 

[Guy64]

This little girl was absorbed completely in Louie's forklift technique, oblivious to the passing train...

 

[Guy64]

Per the usual pattern, after one is drawn in, others gather 'round...

 

[Guy64]

After a couple minutes, most kids move on (some in a daze), but this girl wasn't going to budge. Her mom tried to distract her with french fries, but the food only seemed to strengthen her resolve to "camp out" and continue watching the forklift ballet.

Finally, to help with the extraction, I let Louie's barrel supply run out, then called "Lunch break!" and shut down his forklift.

"He musta run out of LNG. He's having lunch while waiting for maintenance to fill his tank."

At least the little girl got some lunch...

 

[Guy64]

A successful "Bossy sequence" is always good for snapping out of the Louie daze...

 

[Guy64]

The Bubbling Oil Derrick is another hypnotic accessory...

 

[Guy64]

Fun is fun, but the rail fan on the left is all business. None of this Star Wars, Cars, choo-choo face paint nonsense for him. He's flying the colors!

"Go, BNSF!"

"Santa Fe, all the WAY!!"

 

[Guy64]

Despite the low table height, many adults still prefer eye-level viewing.

"That's right, you watch the forklift guy while I...

...watch the...

traaaaiiiins..."

 

[Guy64]

The following sequence depicts the thought processes of a (probably) hyper type 1/type 2 hybrid; he of the orange shirt.

"Are you sure you can do this?"

"Yeah, well that wasn't too bad."

"But let me show you how to work Bossy properly..."

 

[Guy64]

We may need to open a new category on the Bossy Scale: "Nonchalant".

"Push the button?

'K, what-evs..."

 

[Guy64]

Some people are fascinated by passenger trains, others prefer freight...

 

[Guy64]

When you're workin' the gates in the bright sun, it always helps to wear a cool hat...