KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised the ones in Poland don't sell vodkaThat's hilarious!
McDonalds in the US should adopt that marketing strategy
Running Bear's October 2025 Coffee Shop
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The Big L Blast Furnace in Sparrows Point was one of the largest in North America. Built in the 1980s at a cost of over $200 million. It stood over 300-feet tall, dominating the Sparrows Point skyline.
1980s–1990s: Big L operates as a centerpiece of Sparrows Point’s steel output, supporting thousands of jobs and feeding the American industrial engine.
At its height, Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point was the largest steel-producing site in the world, with its own shipyard, rail yard, and port.
Mid-2010s: Big L is imploded with dynamite, marking the symbolic end of steelmaking at Sparrows Point.
The site is being redeveloped as Tradepoint Atlantic, a logistics and distribution hub. Amazon and FedEx are two of the biggest tenants now.
Good Sunday morning! It's 61°F and 70% chance of rain. 
Have a great day!
I do remember now that you mention it, the Taco Bell Cantinas. Never went to one, but I do remember them.
I suppose serving alcohol at fast food joints would add layers of complexity. They wouldn't be able to let minors serve it, and
some of the managers aren't much older than the staff. Plus how would you handle the drive-thru. Plus the family image they
want to keep. Though there are, or were a couple of drive thru liquor stores around here, so I guess its not much different.
As for my choice of soda, my favorite is Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi, but any no sugar soda is good. I wish I could find an affordable source of sugar free cream soda. The regular price of soda these days is insane!
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Bruette
Well-Known Member
I saw this beast up close and personal when it was still in operation. You could feel the heat as you came near.
The Big L Blast Furnace in Sparrows Point was one of the largest in North America. Built in the 1980s at a cost of over $200 million. It stood over 300-feet tall, dominating the Sparrows Point skyline.
1980s–1990s: Big L operates as a centerpiece of Sparrows Point’s steel output, supporting thousands of jobs and feeding the American industrial engine.
At its height, Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point was the largest steel-producing site in the world, with its own shipyard, rail yard, and port.
Mid-2010s: Big L is imploded with dynamite, marking the symbolic end of steelmaking at Sparrows Point.
The site is being redeveloped as Tradepoint Atlantic, a logistics and distribution hub. Amazon and FedEx are two of the biggest tenants now.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Have a great day!
Good morning. It's clear and 63.
The return of the layout to service was--interesting. It's large for N scale, and quite heavy. I borrowed a friend and his truck and trailer to retrieve it. I uncrated it in the driveway, assembled the base, then carried it inside. After wrestling it into place and attaching it to the base, I broke out the vacuum, and cleaned the cobwebs and spiders off it everywhere I could reach. I connected up the power supply for the turnouts, and for S&G, hit the switch for the lighting system. Surprisingly, it worked using the batteries I had installed nearly 4 years ago. Also surprisingly, I plopped an analog engine and Tomix track cleaning car on the rails, turned up the throttle, and away it went. After its first pass around the mainline, I stopped the train to clean the cobwebs off the engine, and found a spider hanging onto the front of the engine for dear life. After thoroughly cleaning the rails and contact points of the turnouts, everything works like it did when I stored it, other than one turnout. That one will switch to the main, but not to the spur track. A little diagnosing is in order for that for today.
And my friend, who is a couple of years younger than me, has decided he's gotten too old for this crap...
The return of the layout to service was--interesting. It's large for N scale, and quite heavy. I borrowed a friend and his truck and trailer to retrieve it. I uncrated it in the driveway, assembled the base, then carried it inside. After wrestling it into place and attaching it to the base, I broke out the vacuum, and cleaned the cobwebs and spiders off it everywhere I could reach. I connected up the power supply for the turnouts, and for S&G, hit the switch for the lighting system. Surprisingly, it worked using the batteries I had installed nearly 4 years ago. Also surprisingly, I plopped an analog engine and Tomix track cleaning car on the rails, turned up the throttle, and away it went. After its first pass around the mainline, I stopped the train to clean the cobwebs off the engine, and found a spider hanging onto the front of the engine for dear life. After thoroughly cleaning the rails and contact points of the turnouts, everything works like it did when I stored it, other than one turnout. That one will switch to the main, but not to the spur track. A little diagnosing is in order for that for today.
And my friend, who is a couple of years younger than me, has decided he's gotten too old for this crap...
Many in the US and Canada don't realize most places in Europe don't serve plain water, and alcohol drinks are normal with nearly all meals. I don't know if it's changed, but I doubt it, that the water in most European cities is not very good, for a variety of reasons. If you ask for water at a restaurant in Europe, they'll either look at you like you just stepped off a space ship, or they'll serve you a glass of mineral water.
And for those interested, the bass guitarist for Limp Bizket has passed on at age 48.
Limp Bizkit Bassist Sam Rivers Dead at 48
Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of Limp Bizkit, has died at age 48.
www.rollingstone.com
Limp Bizkit Bassist Sam Rivers Dead at 48
Sam Rivers, the founding bassist of Limp Bizkit, has died at age 48.
www.rollingstone.com
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
50°F/49°F this cool, wet morning. Good morning all!
4.1" total rainfall at my local WX station up the road at the local airport. We also received another 0.6 from 0500 to 0600 just a bit ago. That nearly takes care of our deficit of over 5" at a total of 4.7" in about a 16 hour period.
Winds are blowing at 14 MPH out of the northwest with gusts to 35 MPH. Autumn has finally arrived here. This weather should have been going on for two weeks already around here.
Have a great Sunday!
4.1" total rainfall at my local WX station up the road at the local airport. We also received another 0.6 from 0500 to 0600 just a bit ago. That nearly takes care of our deficit of over 5" at a total of 4.7" in about a 16 hour period.
Winds are blowing at 14 MPH out of the northwest with gusts to 35 MPH. Autumn has finally arrived here. This weather should have been going on for two weeks already around here.
Have a great Sunday!
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
I'm there sometimes o weekly basis. Back in late 2000s the site still had huge storage warehouses and what i'm assuming steel rolling facilities. A lot of rail sidings. It was disappearing steadily. And yes today the dominating feature is the huge Amazon warehouse. I still sometimes drive down to the back (or water side) to pick up these big aluminum billets, which do come in a ship.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, howdy there internet peeps and those with limp biscuits.
It's Troy again.
Rainy dreary night last night. Slept with the windows cracked open. Other than a 1:30 pee run, I slept in until 6 am.
Heading to the game store in a short bit. Sold off one of my armies, and need to deliver it. Also, the tourney I'm supposed to run next weekend only has four players pre-registered, and only the local two have signed up. I'm leaning towards cancelling it. But I want to get feedback from our players.
It's Troy again.
Rainy dreary night last night. Slept with the windows cracked open. Other than a 1:30 pee run, I slept in until 6 am.
Heading to the game store in a short bit. Sold off one of my armies, and need to deliver it. Also, the tourney I'm supposed to run next weekend only has four players pre-registered, and only the local two have signed up. I'm leaning towards cancelling it. But I want to get feedback from our players.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
Rain is still continuing to fall. It started around 8:45 last night and has rained steadily all night. Haven't ventured out to the rain gauge
to check totals. Current temps are 47F only heading to to 57F with an 18MPH breeze. Kooking at the back yard this morning, I see the
rain and wind have started to bring some of the leaves down finally. Cant put the mower away just yet, but it is time to think about getting
out the snow blower and getting it ready for duty.
Today will be a grocery run. Its usually always done on Saturday, but we were gone yesterday for the celebration of life memorial yesterday.
Also a couple loads of laundry and some other minor things to get done.
Other than that, not much else going on yet!
Have a safe day everyone!
Rain is still continuing to fall. It started around 8:45 last night and has rained steadily all night. Haven't ventured out to the rain gauge
to check totals. Current temps are 47F only heading to to 57F with an 18MPH breeze. Kooking at the back yard this morning, I see the
rain and wind have started to bring some of the leaves down finally. Cant put the mower away just yet, but it is time to think about getting
out the snow blower and getting it ready for duty.
Today will be a grocery run. Its usually always done on Saturday, but we were gone yesterday for the celebration of life memorial yesterday.
Also a couple loads of laundry and some other minor things to get done.
Other than that, not much else going on yet!
Have a safe day everyone!
migalyto
Well-Known Member
An interesting article, thanks.
I do remember now that you mention it, the Taco Bell Cantinas. Never went to one, but I do remember them.
I suppose serving alcohol at fast food joints would add layers of complexity. They wouldn't be able to let minors serve it, and
some of the managers aren't much older than the staff. Plus how would you handle the drive-thru. Plus the family image they
want to keep. Though there are, or were a couple of drive thru liquor stores around here, so I guess its not much different.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning from Wisconsin. I feel like a truck ran me over as everything that can ache is aching! 47f degrees now and 52 later. If we only get to 52 that’s 25 less than yesterday’s high. Autumn in Wisconsin, wait a few as it will all change.
The 2:10 hour drive to the Ops session both in the morning and drive home were crazy. Heavy fog on the way up abut 50 miles from home for maybe 20 miles and the drive home was in glorious sunshine through the rolling hills of the Driftless region with the trees really popping those color changes. Then about 30 minutes from home and now in the dark we hit the proverbial gully washer that slowed us and traffic from 70+ to around 30.
The session was great. It was session 144 on a layout built in 1999 but my 1st time here. Fully scenic it ran very nicely and looked great. 13 operators plus the owner ( no trains for him) we put it through its paces in 5 hours and ran the full schedule of 30 trains across the layout.
I wore a newer pair of shoes yesterday but even on a carpeted train room my feet were sore on the drive home. I thought about it and should have gotten into the hot tub but forgot to turn the heater on about an hour from the house. A hot shower didn’t seem to help and based on how I feel now it definitely did not help.
Today is Volleyball on the UW campus at 1. Maybe food afterward but not positive. Packers play at 3:25 so depending on VB we might miss some of the start of the game or more unlikely the 1st half if we don’t stop to eat. I really don’t care but Terry does
At the Ops session yesterday my friend/chauffer/ swing bridge owner before the session grabbed me and stupid “you have to see this”. John has been to this layout many times but never really checked out the nicely done bridges. Yesterday he did as we’ve both been so focused on his swing bridge and the river it will cross. While not a double track bridge it was the companion single track swing bridge from Walthers. A nicely done bridge I asked the owner how long it took to build and he paid a person to build it
On the drive home we talked about weathering and he decided a dusting of grime. A tough step for him. Then texting me last night he asked if I could start the aging rust process on the back side of the bridge so he can decide while it will be in place temporarily. That’s a good step…
My Facebook page for my layout and some of my weathering projects has been changed to Wisconsin Interstate for those interested as of midnight last night
Be well
The 2:10 hour drive to the Ops session both in the morning and drive home were crazy. Heavy fog on the way up abut 50 miles from home for maybe 20 miles and the drive home was in glorious sunshine through the rolling hills of the Driftless region with the trees really popping those color changes. Then about 30 minutes from home and now in the dark we hit the proverbial gully washer that slowed us and traffic from 70+ to around 30.
The session was great. It was session 144 on a layout built in 1999 but my 1st time here. Fully scenic it ran very nicely and looked great. 13 operators plus the owner ( no trains for him) we put it through its paces in 5 hours and ran the full schedule of 30 trains across the layout.
I wore a newer pair of shoes yesterday but even on a carpeted train room my feet were sore on the drive home. I thought about it and should have gotten into the hot tub but forgot to turn the heater on about an hour from the house. A hot shower didn’t seem to help and based on how I feel now it definitely did not help.
Today is Volleyball on the UW campus at 1. Maybe food afterward but not positive. Packers play at 3:25 so depending on VB we might miss some of the start of the game or more unlikely the 1st half if we don’t stop to eat. I really don’t care but Terry does
At the Ops session yesterday my friend/chauffer/ swing bridge owner before the session grabbed me and stupid “you have to see this”. John has been to this layout many times but never really checked out the nicely done bridges. Yesterday he did as we’ve both been so focused on his swing bridge and the river it will cross. While not a double track bridge it was the companion single track swing bridge from Walthers. A nicely done bridge I asked the owner how long it took to build and he paid a person to build it
On the drive home we talked about weathering and he decided a dusting of grime. A tough step for him. Then texting me last night he asked if I could start the aging rust process on the back side of the bridge so he can decide while it will be in place temporarily. That’s a good step…
My Facebook page for my layout and some of my weathering projects has been changed to Wisconsin Interstate for those interested as of midnight last night
Be well
Nicki and I just returned from 9 days traveling down the Rhine River, Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. A new city to explore every day. We had a good time and great weather.
Air travel was a little rough....9.5 hours PDX to Heathrow, 3 hour layover, 1.5 hour flight to Amsterdam after another 1 hour delay, almost 1.5 hours to get through customs, Viking called & sent a private cab for us (but didn't tell us where to meet it), and we finally made it on board about 9:30pm.
Heathrow is a frickin nightmare to get around in your first time there. Half a dozen escalators to get to subway, then a half dozen more to get through security, then you need to watch the departure board because they don't announce the gate number until 20 minutes before departure.....then you have to rush & take another subway and more escalators to get to your gate. It was also kind of odd to see such a large middle eastern population....retail workers, airport staff, and travelers.
We flew "upgraded economy" on British Airways for all our flights. It was pretty close to the equivalent of domestic first class. BA puts our domestic carriers service to shame. Departing from Basel was a little rough because there wasn't a lot of English spoken, but we found our way. We left the ship at 9:00am Swiss time Saturday and finally made it to our home at 8:30pst Saturday......yes it was a long day.
The ship only had 182 passengers and we met a lot of really nice and very wealthy retirees. Our stateroom was one of the nicest we have been in.
Hanging out on our patio or the upper deck while cruising to the next port was very relaxing. The weather stayed about 60. No rain. Our favorite city was Speyer (close 2nd was the Black Forest via Breisach). This was the old Bavaria we had hoped to visit. The food in the Biergarten we ate at put the ships food to shame. Nicki hated sauerkraut until she some there. Local made bratwurst, on house made sauerkraut, with house made dark rye (pumpernickel) bread, and local Pilsner. We were happy. Passing all the castles, on the hilltops, while cruising was enjoyable
The cathedral in Cologne and the non stop rail action across the bridge & station was pretty cool. Cologne was shoulder to shoulder people and little too cosmopolitan for us.
Germany was very clean, but for the graffiti and 1 or 2 homeless.
Trains, trains, and more trains. Silent electric and good ole noisy diesels. I also saw a couple of little diesels that looked like a 44 tonner, with an offset cab, but couldn't get a photo. I have no idea what any of these are. I thought TomO would enjoy the graffiti.
Cologne
Along the Rhine while passing the castles
The BASF petro-chemical facility must have been 3 miles long and 1 mile deep. Watched the diesel switch some tank cars while traveling by. The trucks dumped their sand or silica loads and the clam shell deposited it into the bin above.
Air travel was a little rough....9.5 hours PDX to Heathrow, 3 hour layover, 1.5 hour flight to Amsterdam after another 1 hour delay, almost 1.5 hours to get through customs, Viking called & sent a private cab for us (but didn't tell us where to meet it), and we finally made it on board about 9:30pm.
Heathrow is a frickin nightmare to get around in your first time there. Half a dozen escalators to get to subway, then a half dozen more to get through security, then you need to watch the departure board because they don't announce the gate number until 20 minutes before departure.....then you have to rush & take another subway and more escalators to get to your gate. It was also kind of odd to see such a large middle eastern population....retail workers, airport staff, and travelers.
We flew "upgraded economy" on British Airways for all our flights. It was pretty close to the equivalent of domestic first class. BA puts our domestic carriers service to shame. Departing from Basel was a little rough because there wasn't a lot of English spoken, but we found our way. We left the ship at 9:00am Swiss time Saturday and finally made it to our home at 8:30pst Saturday......yes it was a long day.
The ship only had 182 passengers and we met a lot of really nice and very wealthy retirees. Our stateroom was one of the nicest we have been in.
Hanging out on our patio or the upper deck while cruising to the next port was very relaxing. The weather stayed about 60. No rain. Our favorite city was Speyer (close 2nd was the Black Forest via Breisach). This was the old Bavaria we had hoped to visit. The food in the Biergarten we ate at put the ships food to shame. Nicki hated sauerkraut until she some there. Local made bratwurst, on house made sauerkraut, with house made dark rye (pumpernickel) bread, and local Pilsner. We were happy. Passing all the castles, on the hilltops, while cruising was enjoyable
The cathedral in Cologne and the non stop rail action across the bridge & station was pretty cool. Cologne was shoulder to shoulder people and little too cosmopolitan for us.
Germany was very clean, but for the graffiti and 1 or 2 homeless.
Trains, trains, and more trains. Silent electric and good ole noisy diesels. I also saw a couple of little diesels that looked like a 44 tonner, with an offset cab, but couldn't get a photo. I have no idea what any of these are. I thought TomO would enjoy the graffiti.
Cologne
Along the Rhine while passing the castles
The BASF petro-chemical facility must have been 3 miles long and 1 mile deep. Watched the diesel switch some tank cars while traveling by. The trucks dumped their sand or silica loads and the clam shell deposited it into the bin above.
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Bruette
Well-Known Member
Good morning, Everybody!
The yard work is done, backyard yesterday, the front yard this morning. I'm happy to report I am none the worse for the wear, thank God.
I'm hoping for cool temperatures so that the grass will stop growing. But not cool enough to cause the heat to come on. I don't ask for much.
Now the for the big question do I watch the Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings both play at 1pm.
Washington will play at 4:25 pm in Dallas, which will be on the DVR as that is past my bedtime. But that is one of those can't miss games.
Later tonight at 8pm the Blue Jays host the Mariners. With the Mariners up three games to two it could be the end of the line for the Blue Jays. I'll watch the replay of that game on MLB.TV in the morning. I'm not a Blue Jays fan, but I am hoping for a game 7. More baseball is always good; I don't care who plays.
I don't think I mentioned the Dodgers victory. Which only proves history is pointless in baseball. Baseball history is fun to read about, but it doesn't mean
if you are trying to predict the games.
The Brewers had the best record in MLB this year and they swept the Dodgers in the regular season six games to none! Then they lose four straight in the National League Championship. Sorry Brewers fans, maybe next year.
Shohei Ohtani put on a show in the final game of the NLCS, 6 scoreless innings pitched with 10Ks, and he hit three homeruns.
Only one pitcher in history has ever hit a grand slam in the World Series: Dave McNally of the Baltimore Orioles! October 13, 1970, Game 3 of the World Series. Let's see you do that Shohei!
The yard work is done, backyard yesterday, the front yard this morning. I'm happy to report I am none the worse for the wear, thank God.
I'm hoping for cool temperatures so that the grass will stop growing. But not cool enough to cause the heat to come on. I don't ask for much.
Now the for the big question do I watch the Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings both play at 1pm.
Washington will play at 4:25 pm in Dallas, which will be on the DVR as that is past my bedtime. But that is one of those can't miss games.
Later tonight at 8pm the Blue Jays host the Mariners. With the Mariners up three games to two it could be the end of the line for the Blue Jays. I'll watch the replay of that game on MLB.TV in the morning. I'm not a Blue Jays fan, but I am hoping for a game 7. More baseball is always good; I don't care who plays.
I don't think I mentioned the Dodgers victory. Which only proves history is pointless in baseball. Baseball history is fun to read about, but it doesn't mean
if you are trying to predict the games.The Brewers had the best record in MLB this year and they swept the Dodgers in the regular season six games to none! Then they lose four straight in the National League Championship. Sorry Brewers fans, maybe next year.
Shohei Ohtani put on a show in the final game of the NLCS, 6 scoreless innings pitched with 10Ks, and he hit three homeruns.
Only one pitcher in history has ever hit a grand slam in the World Series: Dave McNally of the Baltimore Orioles! October 13, 1970, Game 3 of the World Series. Let's see you do that Shohei!
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Here in Baton Rouge, it is partly cloudy and 70°: back home it's clear and a very cool 52°. I don't have the current forecast for our next destination, but back home it's supposed to be 90° tomorrow. According to the Weather Underground, I received 0.34" of rain at home yesterday. I didn't encounter any rain while driving yesterday despite it being all over. It did rain while we were inside the Cajun restaurant for lunch in Lafayette, and again while were in the Mexican restaurant last night here in Baton Rouge.
The Cajun place was great as usual, we've eaten there before 3 or 4 times on our trips. The Mexican place was a disappointment. I've eaten there once before and it was OK, but my wife has always raved about it, she has eaten there many times while vacationing with our kids. She too admitted that it was a disappointment last night. I have always been suspect of a Mexican place in Louisiana!
As always, it was an interesting trip yesterday. While traffic was quite light everywhere except here in Baton Rouge, I made two observations regarding Louisiana drivers. One, is that some just don't care that they're driving 65 mph (or less) in the left lane of a nearly empty Interstate with a limit of 75 mph, even with 18-wheelers passing them (and honking) on the right! We have them in Texas as well, but not nearly as many. Secondly, there seems to be some kind of unwritten rule that they do not use turn signals when changing lanes on any of their roads. They don't seem to look before changing either. Quite annoying.
Patrick - Everyone that I know who took a sleep study, was diagnosed with sleep apnea, with the exception of Troy. I don't know for sure whether they all undertook the study because they were in the "probable" category, or whether doctors just diagnose everyone with it. CPAP mask is next.
Louis - I have the camera and charger with me and will take plenty of pictures. I might not post any until I get back home since I have no direct way to download to this laptop.
Michael - Sugar-Free A&W Root Beer is my choice after imported or craft beers. My tap water at home is also quite good.
Chad - Mexican Coke and other Mexican sodas have been a staple in Texas for over 40 years.
Everyone have a great Sunday.
The Cajun place was great as usual, we've eaten there before 3 or 4 times on our trips. The Mexican place was a disappointment. I've eaten there once before and it was OK, but my wife has always raved about it, she has eaten there many times while vacationing with our kids. She too admitted that it was a disappointment last night. I have always been suspect of a Mexican place in Louisiana!
As always, it was an interesting trip yesterday. While traffic was quite light everywhere except here in Baton Rouge, I made two observations regarding Louisiana drivers. One, is that some just don't care that they're driving 65 mph (or less) in the left lane of a nearly empty Interstate with a limit of 75 mph, even with 18-wheelers passing them (and honking) on the right! We have them in Texas as well, but not nearly as many. Secondly, there seems to be some kind of unwritten rule that they do not use turn signals when changing lanes on any of their roads. They don't seem to look before changing either. Quite annoying.
Patrick - Everyone that I know who took a sleep study, was diagnosed with sleep apnea, with the exception of Troy. I don't know for sure whether they all undertook the study because they were in the "probable" category, or whether doctors just diagnose everyone with it. CPAP mask is next.
Louis - I have the camera and charger with me and will take plenty of pictures. I might not post any until I get back home since I have no direct way to download to this laptop.
Michael - Sugar-Free A&W Root Beer is my choice after imported or craft beers. My tap water at home is also quite good.
Chad - Mexican Coke and other Mexican sodas have been a staple in Texas for over 40 years.
Everyone have a great Sunday.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Thank you, sir, good things are worth waiting for!
As for my choice of soda, my favorite is Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi, but any no sugar soda is good. I wish I could find an affordable source of sugar free cream soda. The regular price of soda these days is insane!
chadbag
Well-Known Member
Not to be pedantic but it’s not Bavaria at all. Bavaria is on the east side of S Germany. Black Forests is part of Swabia (Schwaben) though on the maps that doesn’t quite go to the Rhine. The greater area is Alemania and the various dialects (including a lot of Swiss) are Alemanic dialects.
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