Your erstwhile omscaler is nearing the completion of the final three covered hoppers in this group of railcars. By the time readers see this, they should be 100% complete. Part of the delay came from a vacation day last Tuesday. Traffic on this one was much better than the nightmare traffic experienced last trip. First stop after fuel was the tourist information stop at the Georgia state line (west). After the helpful staff confirmed that my planned route was low traffic and good roads, I left for breakfast at Villa Rica. Then omscaler drove to Cartersville to visit the historic passenger depot. After taking pics, I thought to myself, “I better go ahead and leave to get across the tracks before a train comes.” Lo and behold! As I was just about to get in the car, I heard a train horn from the north side of the area. I thought at this point to just wait and watch the train go by. This as it turned out later was a fortuitous decision. Omscaler then drove through the north side of Cartersville to the freeway. Next stop was Adairsville to get more pics of the depot which was historic and figured in the “Great Locomotive Chase” during the American Civil War. The downtown area is quite picturesque due to the Victorian architecture. Next, headed up the freeway to Dalton, home of carpets and railroads. The visitors center is located in the historic Dalton freight house. The track side loading dock is now a train watching platform. There is also a Southern passenger car on display. The helpful staff lady was kind to show me the television screen that looks out through one of the large windows. This screen receives input from the railroad. The screen has a diagram showing the actual real time signal conditions. All signal aspects were showing red the entire time I was there. Nothing moving. The only train I saw was indeed back at Cartersville. This freight house has an important museum inside. The displays demonstrate the founding of the textile industry here by a young woman. Humble beginnings to significant industry. Omscaler asked the staff person if the old passenger depot still existed. She said it did and game me directions. She also said it was a closed restaurant but the owner was planning to reopen. Turns out omscaler has been in this restaurant on a previous trip some years back. “Deja Vue all over again”. Omscaler knows this has been a long account but as the man said, “One more thing”. Next stop was Prater’s Mill. Interesting place. Mill, lint house(?), cotton gin, mill store, barn, Doctor’s office, six by ten feet(!), barn and...caboose. Tracks are not nearby to my knowledge. I guess the caboose is for a more widespread appeal. Train nuts being what they are. Thus this and the next late lunch stop ended this day trip. Refreshed and working, omscaler
