May 11, 2010
May 9, 2010
I know some of you are looking for my next post and I do have a couple awaiting typing up. I just haven’t taken the time yet to do this as I am moving to a brand new site. It’s not “Live” yet but will be very soon. I am really excited with the new look of this site and have started to learn how much work goes into designing a site. Scott Jay has been very…….No Extremely helpful and patient in setting this up for me. Thanks again Scott!!!!!!!!! Again 
Stay tuned and as soon as it is “Live” I’ll post a link here in case you are interested.
See Ya
Al
February 21, 2010
I had an opportunity to pick up a jewelers work bench for my shop. What a bonus for me!!!!! No more sore back due to being hunched over while working on projects.
February 14, 2010
Here we are, the final report for my trip. After getting the pictures at Morants Curve we a stop at Lake Louise,
and Moraine Lake.
If you have never been to the Rockies and wonder if the water really is that turquoise colour? Yes it is, this is created from the silt of the melting glacier ice and let me tell ya, the bloody water is cold!!!!!! I know, I tried it out.
Within 30 seconds I realized the water is colder than anything I’ve stood in before and it was almost 30 degrees Celsius that day. At 45 seconds my les were going numb and starting to hurt, No kidding!!!!!!!!
We head toward Jasper and make a stop at the Columbia Ice fields. I didn’t go up to the ice fields as I thought it was way over priced just to walk on a bunch of ice but it was cool to see it from the information center.
The next stop was Athabasca Falls just outside of Jasper. This was a very Cool place.
Next stop, Jasper Ahhhhhhhh, CN Country!!!!!! First stop was the train station where I was fortunate to see the Rocky Mountaineer which had just finished unloading it’s passengers.
And a REAL Train 
I seen a few different road names while in Jasper and while up on the mountain after the gondola ride I got a few pictures up there as well of Jasper and the yard as well as some arrivals and departure trains. Enjoy
How would you like this job?
I hope you have enjoyed these post.
If you have never been to the Rockies it is really something you need to experience at least once in your life. There is no way to describe how big…….no, how huge these mountains are unless you see them yourself. I would also like to thank my brother and his wife for the opportunity to enjoy this trip and to see the awesomeness of these mountains. Darrell, Kim, Thank you very, very much!!!!!! I hope I wasn’t to much of a pain to you guys with all the train stuff too
See Ya
Al
January 5, 2010
It’s been three months since part 2 and now I have to figure out where I left off!!!! Yikes!!!!
On the second day in the Mountains we took the Bow Valley Parkway from Banff up to Lake Louise, then on to the Spiral Tunnels. Along this route were many cool twists, turns and scenery. We came across Morant’s Curve but unfortunately no trains while we were there but I took a couple pictures anyway.
This shot is of a bridge just a few miles East of Morant’s Curve.
This is Morant’s Curve looking West, standing beside the road.
Same shot as above only at a higher elevation.
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We arrived at the Spiral tunnels just in time to see the train we missed back at Morant’s Curve. For those who have never been here, here is an idea of how it works:
From the parking lot looking South up the mountain, in the middle of the picture you will see a lighter green tree, that is where the track is. The Train there, if heading West, is already on its decent down the mountains heading towards the Upper Spiral Tunnel. At this point I figure the train is about 150 feet above the road. There really is a train there but in a still picture it is almost impossible to see it.
After the train exits the upper Spiral Tunnel it will cross under the highway. Turn around and face North now and the train will cross in front of you about 100 feet down this side of the mountain. If you look close to the right of this photo you will see some of the red of the locomotive through the trees and in the back ground. If you look in the middle of the picture you will be able to make out the lower portal of the Lower Spiral Tunnel and the track crossing above it.
The locomotive is now passing over top of the portal.
Heading into the upper portal of the Lower Tunnel
Coming out the lower portal.
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In this photo you can see the train passing just bellow where you are standing, Across the lower portal, entering the upper portal and coming out the lower portal all at the same time. Yes it is all the same train. This was not a long train and I over heard a fellow there say if it was one of the longer ones the end of the train would still be on the mountain behind you!
The next day we left Banff and headed for Jasper and once again went through the Bow Valley Parkway just in case we might see a train at the Curve. We were in luck, so instead of the road side shots, I climbed the hill and got a few from the side of the mountain. Next time I’ll probably get them next to the road though.
My next post will be up in Jasper, Ahhhhh CN Country and hopefully won’t take as long to get posted as this one did 
See Ya
Al
December 31, 2009
Sorry all, It has been a very busy past three months for me. Any down time has been spent with little more than relaxation and rest. I finally finished up my Sister-in-Laws basement a few weekends ago and the last couple weeks have been spent working on my own house. We replaced 6 windows a couple weekends ago, installed a new low flow flusher and wrapped the hot water tank and pipes in insulation (they say every little bit helps!!!) My basement is a mess and I am now trying to clean it up and organize things better. Unfortunately that means it is time to really go through my “stuff” (the wife calls it Junk) and start throwing out what I really will never use…Arggggggg!!!!!
Starting next weekend my work has me spending the next month or so working weekends as well so there will be little time for train work as well. Dangit!!!!!!
I know I need to finish my posts on my Alberta Trip and there have been some small moves forward on my home layout that I will post as soon as possible.
Until then
See Ya
Al
~ HAPPY NEW YEAR ~
September 30, 2009
On Friday we headed for Banff. While traveling South heading toward Calgary I could look to the West and see the tip of the Rockies. They looked more like weird clouds at this distance. We made a stop in Olds for gas, breakfast and a trip to the local hobby shop. The owner was a pleasant fellow and is planning to move his shop to Red Deer later this year or early next year. Soon we were on our way again still heading South but just before Calgary we turned and started heading West and at that point I could see the Rockies starting to come into focus much better. The closer we got the larger they seamed to get. Let me tell you if you have never seen the Rockie Mountains it is something you should plan to do at some point in your life. It really makes you feel like a little speck on this little planet of ours.
If you have never been to Banff let me describe it a little. It is not a very large town but the population of tourists must more than double the local population. All the touristy (is that even a word?) are found on Banff Avenue and every where you look there are either tons of people or mountains. Standing on the corner of Banff Avenue and WOLF Street , here is what you will see:
I know some of these pictures are dark but I don’t own a DSLR Camera so I am still trying to learn how to use the different settings instead of being able to use just F stops and shutter speeds.
Here are a few more pictures I’ll share with you all from the Rockies, then my next post will have trains for sure….I promise
Stay tuned
See Ya
Al
September 25, 2009
As some of you know I just recently took a trip to Alberta to visit my brother and take a trip through the Rockies. I have also been asked (by multiple friends) to post something about it and would have sooner but I am having difficulties getting my photo’s placed where I want them in the blog. For some reason they always so here goes:
On Wednesday Sept 9th I left Moncton around 7 am and headed for Alberta via West Jet. After a 1 1/2 hour layover in Toronto it was off once again into the Wild Blue Yonder, headed for Edmonton. Let me tell ya, sitting in a plane for 4 hours straight is not what I call exciting or a fun time. I’m not claustrophobic but I also don’t like being cooped up in a small space for a long time either. When we finally landed I went to the baggage pickup area to look for my sister in law (Kim) as my brother (Darrell) works on the oil rigs and wasn’t due home until Thursday. I was very surprised to see both of them standing there. Darrell got off a day early just to make sure he was there when I arrived.
They live in a town called Ponoka which is South of Edmonton and North of Calgary. Between Calgary and Edmonton the CPR has a line that runs along Highway 2A and on the way to Darrell’s place I saw two different trains and I’m sorry to say no pictures either as my camera was still packed in one of my bags. Sorry Guys!
The first two places we went to see were an outside railway museum and Reynolds’s – Alberta museum. This museum holds antique auto’s, farming and aviation equipment and if you are ever in the area it is definitely worth the few bucks it cost to walk through there. Here is acouple pictures of what I seen there:
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- 1911 Willys-Overland Fore Door (Yes “Fore” Door)
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- With “Non Skid” Tires
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- 1929 Duesenberg
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- Avro Arrow (Replica)
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- Avro Arrow (Replica)
The Railroad museum was closed when we were there for the season but I was able to get a couple shots that I can post (and I got a few more I won’t on grounds I could incriminate myself…and “others”)
Sorry it took so long to get this out but I really haven’t had a lot of free time since I came home.
Part two of my trip will start the trip through the Rockies, so for now here are a couple photos.
See Ya
Al
September 7, 2009
Well I finally have some time to jot down some notes from HillFest from last weekend. This was the first time I have ever planed an event like this and from what I have read from some of the other members it must have been a hit.
Friday afternoon and evening was for setup and for the most part was ready for first thing Saturday morning. Saturday morning was just a couple little things left and we were operating in no time with the new operation system.
Our location had a kitchen area where we were able to use so some ready to bake pizza’s were cooked up for Dinner and the leftovers became Dinner for Sunday as well. Saturday afternoon was more operating until we had a few complaining they were hungry. We had brought a BBQ on-site for supper but when Scot and I went to get it going we realized the remnants of a hurricane that we might have, sort of, forgot was blowing through. We grabbed the BBQ and ran for cover and cooked up burgers for supper.
Saturday night was a time to get off our feet and watch some slides. John Whitmore showed some of his slides from the Prairies back in the 60′s. I almost had to leave as I didn’t want the guys hear me sobbing when I seen the slid of all the steam engines on the tracks waiting to be scrapped. That had to be a sad day for many people. Then Luc Knowlan showed his slides of his trip to to Alberta and up through the Rockies.
That night I found about 4 Extra guests guests for a few hours until there nameless host decided to come home and unlock the door. Seemed he forgot to leave them a key……Yeah right!!!! ;-D
Sunday morning was back to operations for one last session before Dinner then tear down. By 3 O’clock that afternoon you would hardly even know we had been there.
All in all I think it was a very succesfull and fun weekend. You should have been there if you weren’t!!!!!!
By all means if you would like to read more reviews or learn a little more about us please visit our Blog/Website at
http://theumg.ca/
Birds eye view
The photo does not do justice to the setup.
See Ya
Al
August 27, 2009
Well with only 2 evenings left my wife even helped out last night. I was working on the Ballast and she was working on the stream and painting the fascia. Can’t wait and RailFest is coming fast!!!!
See Ya
Al
