We took the plunge!

Yes! We blasted out of town a few days ago and headed for the great outdoors. But not before we stopped at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia. And boy what an interesting(?) first leg of the trip. We left Leeds(AL) at a little after 7:00 a.m. We wanted to get fuel in east Oxford in case Georgia gas prices were higher. We did so and tried to get on the freeway. There were locations where fog was somewhat heavy everywhere on the road. Omscaler got gas went to the on ramp and noticed ten or more cars coming up the ramp. Still hazy with sleep I said to myself, “I did not notice this being a two lane road.” What my foggy brain did not realize was that cars had turned around on the ramp. The reason was that the freeway was now a parking lot. After a few moments of mental processing we decided to go to Hwy. 78 East. I guessed that super thick fog on Cheaha ridge had either stopped traffic or had resulted in an accident. After a few miles I was able to get back on the freeway. Smooth sailing all the way to Villa Rica and breakfast. Umm, umm, delicious! After this things got interesting. I had decided to try to go through downtown Atlanta to Get to Interstate 85 north. The last time I was on the 285, traffic was slow and heavy. This decision also turned out to let me experience traffic that was slow and heavy. I eventually got on 85N and drove on. After a few miles up I85, I looked over at the southbound side and noticed traffic was not moving. “How do people live like this?”, I wondered. Anyway, after trundling on for a while, I came to the Duluth exit that I wanted. I got info from the admission person and learned that the miniature train used to reside at the Jimmy Morgan Zoo in Birmingham. He said I could choose this train or the full size one that toured part of the grounds and shop. I told him I had already ridden the little train when I was a boy so I would take the big one. Sometimes things really do come full circle. What an interesting museum. Franklin D’s railcar, steam locomotives, an E8 streamliner and a lot more. I told the conductor I had accidentally climbed up the ladder to the E8. He said the door was locked. After the train ride, I showed the conductor and engineer my sample of an Omega Scale Railway boxcar that I carry around. They were appreciative and invited me to visit the inside of the locomotive that pulled the tour cars we had ridden. I am writing another thank you to these men for their courtesy and favor. Next, omscaler drove to Roswell for a visit to Blue Ox Model Trains. This store has an outstanding inventory! I have not seen this much model railroad inventory in years. After a brief chat and getting some directions (Don’t want to get lost. Do we?), I headed for I-575 north. And here omscaler experienced...wait for it...heavy traffic! After what was a long time, we were able to head to Ellijay for check-in and supper. Whew! The next day I visited and hiked at Fort Mountain State Park. My goal was to see the stone serpent effigy. This effigy is reported to be between 850 and 930 feet long. I only checked out a short section of the site. The identity of the builders remain a mystery to this day. Next I wanted to go to one of the apple orchards for fried apple pie. It was delicious. Then I made my way home. The week of this post should see more progress on the covered hopper project. Roofs are complete now and we will work on smaller parts next. Refreshed and diligent, omscaler

 

Blue skies and cool at last!

 Yes sir, we have real Autumn weather at last. Great news for all of us that hate humidity. Got out recently and walked at the park walking track. Refreshed omscalers brain it did. The only problem we see now is a conflict between staying in and building The Omega Scale Railway and going outside and being in the great outdoors. Per last post omscaler can report that all wheels are installed and running gear is ready to receive car bodies. Currently car roofs are being fabricated. After that we will have to decide which components are to be done. Enjoying the options, omscaler

 

Blue skies...and warm

Per last post, omscaler is still looking for cooler temps. And looking, and looking. I know it will come. Just when? Anyway, enough complaining. Let’s complain about something else. Omscaler is still working on the covered hopper project. As of this writing we are assembling freight car trucks. I have to admit it is a little time consuming since we are working on four cars plus one set for an upcoming car project. Lots of wheels needed. Plus additional parts. But we will work and work until we get it all done. It is what we do. Moving forward, omscaler

 

October already!

 Omscaler is a little surprised. Surprised that Summer is gone and it still is warm and humid. However, we believe that spectacular Autumn weather will appear soon. This a great time for outdoor railfanning and hiking and other outdoor stuff. Omscaler has been chomping at the bit to get outside. Chores and errand are looming but we will get it done. Then, hit the the road. Road trip! Where will we go? Answer will be listed in future blog posts. We are still building covered hoppers slowly but surely. Working along, omscaler

 

Procrastination pays off!

 As post readers noted last week, we had one set of car markings done and as mentioned we have done all sets. Next we began roof hatches and as it stands one set is done with three more to go. There are eight roof hatches per car so we have a good bit to do. Readers will have noted in the tag line a reference to procrastination. This is due to last Saturday having no work done. No work but driving that is. Yours truly, omscaler, decided to blow off everything and leave town. What was luring us out of town (note: us is celestial “us”, actually just me.)? Answer: Goats! An announcement came out a few weeks ago about a friend on a public social platform we all know about concerning a goat beauty contest. A what? After further investigation it was discovered that the contest was part of the annual Dancing Goat Folkfest in Ellijay, Georgia, U.S. (for our international readers). Dancing goats, arts and crafts, great scenery. We gotta’ go! And so we did. Cranked out of bed at 5:30 a.m., local time. Rambled to the gas station. Rambled into large retail outlet for junk food and beverage. Then hit the road. Stopped at Oxford for “chicky biskit” and headed for Georgia. Finally rolled into Ellijay about a quarter till noon. Checked out the downtown displays and then located the other venue. I was too late for the goat beauty contest but got to visit with friends who had a participant, “Yoga”, in the show. A nice lady and her husband from Gadsden, Alabama, U.S., who own Lookout Mountain Goat Ranch, an arts and crafts learning studio. (Check it out!) After this I headed to Falls Creek Falls located in the Rich Mountain Wilderness Area where I hiked slowly but surely to the falls. (Only a half mile round trip.) After this I went ahead instead of returning to the highway. I was rewarded with a paved road and more scenery. I ended up at the Iron Bridge cafe located across from a one lane steel truss bridge over the river. Bridge looked a hundred years old. I went inside and asked where I was. (I was on Aska Road at Shallowford Bridge Road.) Next I asked where the road went. The person said one direction was very rambling and the other went to Blue Ridge. “Thank you”, I said. Then got in the car and went to Blue Ridge. People all over! No parking! Slow driving! Looked like Gatlinburg on a railway! Got pics of a parked locomotive and the old depot and caboose and converted boxcar (now gift shop). Next I headed for food and then home. Got in about 8:00 p.m., that night. Whew! How did procrastination pay off? Well now omscaler is “inspired’’! So now I can enthusiastically get back to work! And how did Yoga do? He came in third place. There is always next year! Looks like we both need to put shoulder or hoof to the wheel as the case may be. Working with enthusiasm, omscaler

 

The inch worm rules!

As mentioned last post, we are inching along. We did make a decision on a new method for making ribbed car sides and these are awaiting reporting marks. So far, one set of car reporting marks are installed. The rest of the reporting marks are standing by. Hopefully by week’s end these will be done as well. Then the rest of the project should be cutting out parts and assembly. Where omscaler lives right now is experiencing persistent heavy rains. It is a great time to work indoors. Wherever our readers are, stay safe, stay dry and stay well. Omscaler

 

Inching along

Hello again blog readers. Just a brief update for you concerning the previously mentioned covered hopper project. As of this writing, A group of four pairs of sides are complete. Four sub-roofs are also done. A pre-production car side was done for evaluation purposes and the results were not acceptable. As omscaler stated before, this project would involve a higher level of craftsmanship than the first covered hopper. So early Saturday morning was spent discovering a better way of building car sides. This process went on into Sunday as well. We now believe we have a working method to get the desired results. Monday will prove to be busy with non Omega Scale Railway errands and family time due to a recent birthday but Tuesday promises to be resuming work at full throttle (insert pun here). Working on the work at hand, omscaler