Weekend Photos - January 2026

[webenda]

11 - yuck!

That is what I said when I changed from MS-DOS to Windows 1.0. I have hated every upgrade since then.


Well, I wouldn't go back to IBM's Punched-Card System, but I did like Fortran for creating programs for the IBM system. I understand Fortran is still in use today.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

...I did like Fortran for creating programs for the IBM system. I understand Fortran is still in use today.

As did I but then I moved on to Algol 60, and then I moved on from programming to a different planet.....

[healey36]

I suspect COBOL is still used as well, especially in banking, an industry loathe to upgrade/update their tech.

Packing up some trains this week, gave the 2018 and set #1555WS a few laps around the layout:



It's not an authentic period set as a number of the cars are modern era repops, but the manifest is technically correct (loco #2018, tender #6046W, B&O boxcar #6464-400, gondola #6462-125 NYC, #3361 log dump car ATSF, and caboose #6257-50 LL). Pretty fun, and the 2018 runs/smokes like a banshee.

I'm getting too old to climb up onto the roof of the commuter station to get these shots.

[HONDO74]

Looks like LIONEL 1555WS Postwar Train Set 1956

https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-e252rx/ ... 453.169887

[healey36]

It was a terrific set, with considerable "play value" for some lucky kid. A bit surprised how easily the non-Magnetraction #2018 moves the train. It would be interesting to throw a few more cars behind it to see when wheel-slippage is observed. The modern-era cars probably roll quite a bit easier than the postwar originals.

[HONDO74]

LIONEL TRAINS LOCOMOTIVE No. 2018
https://www.tandem-associates.com/lione ... 8_loco.htm

The Lionel Adriatic Type 2-6-4-Locomotive No. 2018 would be released concurrently with the No. 2037, but lacked Magnetraction. It was available beginning in 1956 until 1959, and again in 1960 and 1961. This locomotive shares the same boiler with the No. 2026 (1951), 2029, 2036, 2037, 2037-500 and 637. Equipped with drive and connecting rods only, this engine had a three position directional unit whose control lever protrudes through the top of the boiler right in front of the cab, sheet-metal trailing truck, smoke unit, headlight with lens and spoked driving wheels. There are five variations:

[healey36]

Awfully quiet around here, so I'll post another vintage prewar shot, this a Flyer 3192 (3195 loco, 3199 tender) dragging a few four-wheel freights:



The 3192 and 3193 locomotive/tender combinations were American Flyer's 1930 return to electric O-gauge steam after nearly a decade-long absence. A cast iron locomotive and tender that, despite their small size, weigh a freakin' ton. According to the 1930 catalog, the freight set featured 8-wheel freights, but the guy I got this from at York had included a four-wheel flat and caboose. I added a four-wheel 3012 boxcar. The 3192 is one-direction only; the 3193 has a reversing unit; it basically looks like an electrified wind-up.

A neat little "set"...let's call it "uncatalogued"

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Awfully quiet around here........

Yes, weather and new year related?

Nice photo!! More, please.

[healey36]

Turned to a few mundane tasks this week, like making up some storage boxes so I can get excess stuff off the layout. I've been using partitioned boxes intended for sports card collectors...those can be pretty nice (although getting really pricey).

Slowly getting things under control, or at least it feels that way.

Cleared the residual snow/ice from the front street-walk this AM before the city nails me with a "failure to clear the public walkway" fine. I think we get 48 hours to get that done. That said, it's a sidewalk to nowhere now, as the city piled up about three feet of snow/sleet/ice at the end...with the consistency of concrete, I'm not chipping a path through that.

Hope all here are done with this, have power, and are sitting by the fire reading a good book (or something worthwhile).

[Rufus T. Firefly]

........ sitting by the fire reading a good book (or something worthwhile).

Spent a good hour chopping through the ice to get to the snow to clear a path to firewood rank #2 - too much ice clear the tarp off rank #1,

Broke one of my good shovels yesterday opening up the driveway to the main road,

Have to use a floor heater in my shop,

[robert.]

Guy next to me brought out his rototiller. Ran it to to his mailbox and back. Then fire up his snow blower and made quick work of the chunks. Pure genius!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I like that idea; clever!

And then there's this: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/g6CWyzdl2RM

[healey36]

I don't know...sounds like one could really rip up a driveway using a roto-tiller. My asphalt driveway already has a number of cracks in it

Picked up this LIonel 248 that some "artist" gave a cosmetic retouch:



Not a bad job, but it's gonna need re-wheeling and some pick-up work (at least).

Closing out January...can't say I'll miss the @ss-end of this month. Brrr...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.........gonna need re-wheeling and some pick-up work (at least).

Where do you get the wheels?

Closing out January...can't say I'll miss the @ss-end of this month. Brrr...

Yes; agree! Had to plug in the heater in my shop..... Going out to the wood pile is an adventure.

[healey36]

Hennings has replacement wheel-sets. I have a set around here somewhere...was going to use them on a basket-case 252, but maybe they’d be best used here. I can always get another set, presumably.

What I need is a better wheel-puller; the one I have is not too great.