Monday, July 24, 2017

Good Morning!

Hubby and I are going to take a few days off and enjoy all our hard work that has been done here in Coopville!

Just going to sit on the deck, turn the laptop off, read and relax -  Will be back  in a week or two!


:o)

Saturday, July 22, 2017

At the Hop!


Little Caesar & the Romans!



Those oldies but goodies



Those oldies but goodies .... reminds me of you
The songs of the past .... bring back memories of you ....
I always remember the first night we met
I always will treasure them so close to my heart
The songs they were playing I never will forget
Each time that I hear them a tear's bound to fall
They always will haunt me although we're apart ....
The songs of the past .... bring back memories of you
For I love those memories that I, I-I recall ....
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you .....
Forever they will haunt me .... but what can I do? .....
(Oldies but goodies reminds me of you) .......
Memories that our love once knew.
Yes, dear ..... they are playin' our songs. And they will always remain our songs
I hope you, too, will cherish the wonderful
And each time you hear them ....
(Oldies but goodies reminds me of you) ....
For these songs are just a symbol of the Love that I had for you.
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you
The songs of the past bring back memories of you
Forever they will haunt me but what can I do? .....
Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you!



:o)




Friday, July 21, 2017

Friday Night Steam

Lawdy!  Just listen to that whistle!!!!


The epitome of American streamliner steam locomotives, Southern Pacific Daylight Number 4449 hauled a colorful mix of passenger cars from Portland to Bend, Oregon on 24 June 2017, along the north shore of the Columbia River and on to Bend, Oregon







Southern Pacific 4449
Night session june 23 2011 033xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg
SP 4449 under steam in Tacoma, WA in June, 2011.
[hide]Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderLima Locomotive Works
Serial number7817
Build dateMay 1941
[hide]Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-8-4
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mmstandard gauge
Driver dia.80 in (2,032 mm)[1]
Length110 ft (34 m)[1]
Width10 ft (3 m)
Height16 ft (5 m)
Adhesive weight275,700 lb (125,100 kg)
Loco weight475,000 lb (215,000 kg)[2]
Total weight788,730 lb (357,760 kg)[3]
Fuel typeBunker oil
Cylinder size25.5 in × 32 in (648 mm × 813 mm)
dia × stroke
[hide]Performance figures
Maximum speed110 mph (180 km/h)
Power output5,500 hp (4,100 kW)
Tractive effort66,326 lbf (295,030 N), 78,000 lbf (350,000 N) with booster
Factor of adh.4.16
[hide]Career
OperatorsSouthern Pacific
ClassGS-4
Number in class28
Numbers4449
Nicknames"The Daylight"
First runMay 30, 1941
RetiredOctober 2, 1957
RestoredApril 21, 1975
Current ownerCity of PortlandOregon
DispositionOperational; based in PortlandOregon, at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center



History
Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving example of Southern Pacific Railroad's (SP) GS-4 class of steam locomotives. The GS-4 is a streamlined 4-8-4 (Northern) type steam locomotive. GS stands for "Golden State", a nickname for California (where the locomotive was operated in regular service), or "General Service." The locomotive was built by Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, for SP in May 1941; it received the red-and-orange "Daylight" paint scheme for the passenger trains of the same name which it hauled for most of its service career. No. 4449 was retired from revenue service in 1957 and put into storage. In 1958 it was donated, by the railroad, to the City of Portland who then put it on static display in Oaks Park, where it remained until 1974. It was restored to operation for use in the second American Freedom Train, which toured the 48 contiguous United States for the American Bicentennial celebrations. Since then, 4449 has been operated in excursion service throughout the continental US; its operations are currently based at the Brooklyn roundhouse in Portland, where it is maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers called Friends of SP 4449. In 1983, a poll of Trains magazine readers chose the 4449 as the most popular locomotive in the nation.
Revenue Years: 4449 was the last engine manufactured in Southern Pacific's first order of GS-4 (Golden State/General Service) locomotives. 4449 was placed into service on May 30, 1941, and spent its early career assigned to the Coast Daylight, SP's premier passenger train between San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, but it also pulled many other of the SP's named passenger trains. After the arrival of newer GS-4s and GS-5s, 4449 was assigned to Golden State Route and Sunset Route passenger trains. 4449 was re-assigned to the Coast Division in the early 1950s. One of 4449's career highlights happened on October 17, 1954, when 4449 and sister 4447 pulled a special 10-car train for the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society from Los Angeles to Owenyo, California, and return. In 1955, after being one of the last few Daylight steam engines in Daylight livery, 4449 was painted black and silver and its side skirting (a streamlining feature of the Daylight steam engines) was removed due to dieselization of the Coast Daylight in January of that year. 4449 was then assigned to Southern Pacific's San Joaquin Valley line, occasionally pulling passenger trains such as the San Joaquin Daylight between Oakland and Bakersfield as well as fast freight and helper service. 4449 was semi-retired from service on September 24, 1956, and was kept as an emergency back-up locomotive until it was officially retired on October 2, 1957, and was placed in storage along with several other GS-class engines near Southern Pacific's Bakersfield roundhouse.
On Display: In 1958, when most of the GS class engines had already been scrapped, a then black-and-silver painted 4449 was removed from storage and donated to the city of Portland, Oregon, on April 24, 1958, where it was placed on outdoor public display in Oaks Park. Since the equipment was considered obsolete, 4449 was not actively chosen for static display. It was picked simply because it was the first in the dead line and could be removed with the least number of switching moves. During its time on display, 4449 was repeatedly vandalized and had many of its parts stolen, including its builder's plates and whistle. The locomotive quickly deteriorated due to neglect. It was evaluated for restoration in 1974 after becoming a candidate to pull the American Freedom Train. Its size, power, and graceful lines made it a good fit for the Bicentennial train. After finding that 4449's bearings and rods were in good shape, it was chosen.
American Freedom Train: 4449 was removed from display on December 14, 1974, and restored at Burlington Northern's Hoyt Street roundhouse in Portland and returned to operation April 21, 1975, wearing a special paint scheme of red, white, and blue. As part of the American Freedom Train, the engine pulled a display train around the most of the United States. Afterwards, 4449 pulled an Amtrak special, the Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion. After nearly two years on the road, 4449 was returned to storage in Portland, this time under protective cover and not exposed to the elements.
Present Day: In 1981, SP 4449 was returned to its original "Daylight" colors for the first Railfair at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California. In 1984, 4449 pulled an all Daylight-painted train from Portland to New Orleans, Louisiana and back, to publicize the World's Fair. The 7,477-mile (12,033 km) round trip was the longest steam train excursion in US history. In 1986, 4449 went to Hollywood to appear in Tough Guys, and pulled business trains for the Southern Pacific. No. 4449 had another famous moment in 1989 when 4449 and Union Pacific 844 (another famous 4-8-4 steam engine) made a side-by-side entrance into the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal in 1989 for the station's 50th anniversary celebrations. No. 4449 returned to Railfair in Sacramento in 1991 and again in 1999. In 2000, 4449 was repainted black and silver for a Burlington Northern Santa Fe employee appreciation special, then was repainted into the American Freedom Train colors again in early 2002 after the events of the September 11th terrorist attacks. In 2004, the locomotive was returned to Daylight colors again, this time in its "as delivered" appearance.

Source: http://4449.com/history.html

Today's funny :o)





Engineers Go To Heaven
 
An Engineer dies... and goes to Hell. Dissatisfied with the level of comfort, he starts designing and building improvements. After a while, Hell has air conditioning, flush toilets and escalators.
 
The engineer is a pretty popular guy.
 
One day God calls and asks Satan, "So, how's it going down there?"
 
Satan says, "Hey things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next." 
 
God is horrified. "What? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake - he should never have gone down there! You know all engineers go to Heaven. Send him up here! " 
 
Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff. I'm keeping him." 
 
God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue." 
 
"Yeah, right," Satan laughs, "and where are you going to get a lawyer?"



Another......

... tree comes down. This one had two trunks growing out of one base. This was on Wednesday:








Oops!




Rotten inside:




..... and yesterday he took the other trunk down:






This side was rotten, too:





This is good wood - It will be used for 2020:


The heat and humidity is getting unbearable:


The gang in the coop at night - spreading their wings trying to keep cool:






Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Kinetic Sculptures

Just love these!!!!!















:o)


Today's funny :o)

H/T to Donna!




:o)

Another one down!

Hubby took down another tree on Monday - for once it wasn't raining!!!










The whole inside of it was rotten:





Plenty of holes in it too:




This went right through so you could see out the other side:







Ants!!!!!!!!!








Used a WHOLE can of Raid on it!


:o)




Monday, July 17, 2017

Wagon wheels!

Simply fascinating how the wheels are made for the Borax wagons.

 Enjoy!!








Do you still use Borax? I do!

:o)









fsdf

Today's funny :o)














Toikeys


On Friday in Coopville ( and yes, it is raining - again)!







They must have walked by the coop. Charlie was going ballistic. That's what made me look outside!






On Saturday:  next door at the neighbor's:














Didn't see any young 'uns, though.

:o(





Saturday, July 15, 2017

At the Hop!

The Tokens!




Tonight I Fell In Love 

Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo tonight I fell in love, woo - oo
Tonight, tonight I fell in love, I want the stars above
To know tonight I fell in love.
Oh what a wonder, this magic spell I'm under!
Tonight, I gave my heart away to love that can stay
'Cause tonight I fell in love.
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie
This feeling that I feel, is it really real?
My heart beats so fast, I pray that it will last
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie
'Til the end of time.
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, tonight I fell in love, woo - oo
Tonight, oh may it last forever, forever and ever.
Yes, tonight I fell in love.
Yes, tonight I fell in love.
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Woooooooo


:o)




Friday, July 14, 2017

Friday Night Steam

We're off to Australia tonight to learn about some really hard working little steam engines!

Be sure to use the video setting of 1080!





Steam on the Harbour is a documentary showcasing Darling Harbour as a busy railway goods yard, long before it became one of Sydney's main destinations for recreation and entertainment. It features footage shot by transport enthusiast and cinematographer Roger McKenzie and his friend Bernie Kent in the 1960s and 70s. 



New South Wales Z19 class locomotive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New South Wales Z19 class
NSWGR Class Z19 Locomotive.jpg
Class Z19 Locomotive in service
[hide]Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock & Co.
Henry Vale and Company
Build date1877–1891
Total produced80
[hide]Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0
 • UICCn
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)
Loco weightOriginal: 75,000 lb (34 t);
Rebuilt: 84,000 lb (38 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area
Original: 14 sq ft (1.3 m2);
Rebuilt: 18 sq ft (1.7 m2)
Boiler pressureOriginal: 130 psi (0.90 MPa);
Rebuilt: 150 psi (1.03 MPa)
Heating surfaceOriginal: 1,275 sq ft (118.5 m2);
Rebuilt: 1,320 sq ft (123 m2)
SuperheaterNone
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effortOriginal: 17,900 lbf (79.6 kN);
Rebuilt: 20,655 lbf (91.9 kN)

Career
OperatorsNew South Wales Government Railways
ClassA93 (Z19 from 1924)
Disposition4 preserved, 76 scrapped
The Z19 class (formally A.93 class) was a class of steam locomotive built for and operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History

Class Z19 (A93) locomotive being delivered at Pyrmont
By 1877 the main lines in New South Wales were nearing TamworthWagga Wagga and Orange. The additional distances required an increase in motive power, especially as at that time, locomotives were changed after quite short journeys. They were only in service when manned by their regular crew.
Between 1877 and 1881, the initial order of 50 of these 0-6-0 wheel arrangement locomotives were delivered from Beyer, Peacock and Company. Between 1880 and 1891, Beyer, Peacock delivered a further nine and local manufacturer, Henry Vale and Company eighteen.
The load which these locomotives could haul over the Blue Mountains line was 128 tonnes at 11–13 km/h. William Thow, the then Locomotive Engineer of the South Australian Railways, was commissioned by the New South Wales Government in 1888 to enquire into the New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock. He recommended modifications to this class as he considered them to be the best designed and proportioned of the locomotives then in service. This included Belpaire boilers and new cabs.
Following the reclassification of locomotives in 1891, three additional similar locomotives were added to the class. With the arrival of the T class saw the class relegated to secondary roles and coal services in Newcastle. Between April 1902 and February 1910, fourteen were converted to 20 class 2-6-4 tank engines at Eveleigh Railway Workshops. By 1933 many had been withdrawn, with only 36 remaining in service.
Having a short wheelbase and no leading bogie, the locomotives had a tendency to derail and they were ultimately restricted to a maximum speed of 40 km/h and relegated to shunting and branch line traffic. Driven slowly, they could negotiate the most appalling curves and badly maintained or unballasted tracks. They were therefore ideal in goods yards, such as Darling Harbourand Port Waratah with the last two withdrawn from the latter in August 1972. Branch lines such as those to DorrigoBatlow and Oberon where grades of up to 1 in 25 (4%) and curves as sharp as 100 metres (328 ft) radius could be encountered were ideal for this class and these were the only locomotives permitted on these lines until dieselisation.

Preservation

Four locomotives of the class have been preserved:
Preserved Z19 Class Locomotives
No.DescriptionManufacturerYearCurrent OrganisationLocationStatusRef
19040-6-0 GoodsBeyer, Peacock and Company1877Dorrigo Steam Railway and MuseumDorrigostoredPorthole cab
19050-6-0 GoodsBeyer, Peacock and Company1877NSW Rail Transport MuseumThirlmerestatic exhibitNSW Locomotive, Steam 1905
19190-6-0 GoodsBeyer, Peacock and Company1878Glenreagh Mountain RailwayGlenreaghstoredSteam Locomotive 1919
19230-6-0 GoodsBeyer, Peacock and Company1879Dorrigo Steam Railway and MuseumDorrigostoredCutaway cab



Today's funny :o)






:o)

Just stuff....

.... from yesterday,


Still hot and humid, lots of moisture in the air:









The gang looking for bugs:




Hubby did some landscaping around the trees:



Charlie pretending he found some goodies for the girls to eat:



More mushrooms:


This one was purple - that's two I've seen like this:


This one had a feathery top to it:


This one is just big and ugly:


Have no idea where this flower came from:


Surprise! More rose buds. Yay!
!

My new pinwheel - I LOVE pinwheels!



:o)