The Canadian Thread - Hi-Res images

[constar261]

Where did you find that 2-8-0 its seriously blowing my mind?
And where can I purchase one?

 

[rickf77]

Morning Fellas;

Constar: She looks pretty good, eh? I would love for CNR fans to be able to get their hands on the 2-8-0, there are two models, N4a and N4b. Steve from K&L reworked his B&O 2-8-0 into what you see. I'm starting to think he did it over from the ground up! Why don't you contact Steve and see what he says? It would be great if he would still have all the needed files or whatever. I'm sure there are many who would pay a little bit for a great CNR loco. We have little steamers to choose from. I'd like to see Steve make at least a couple of bucks off it. All he has received is the money I gave him for the work. If you don't feel comfortable about contacting him, get back to me and I'll ask him about it. Steve's a great guy, I'm sure Bill is too, I just have not "met" him yet. I have some more Canadian stuff being worked on now. A CNR 0-6-0...I'm sure you can guess who I asked to do it! Also, Brian (lilb) is working on something really nice (not a loco). It is going to end up payware, but I think Canadian fans will be happy to get their hands on it! Don't forget, Brian has done a lot of Canadian rolling stock that you can pick up for free at the JR site. Both these guys are great at what they do and are easy to work with. I'd like to help them out, but, they need very little info from me!

Thank you, Roy! I'll remember your kind words when I run into trouble along the way! This is my second attempt at the route. I got TS12 in the mail, next day ordered TransDEM, and just went at it like a madman! I had no idea of what was available for scenery items, etc. I just learned how to do things as I built the route. I messed it up pretty good! I'm keeping my old route for now in case I feel like going for a spin!

I spent a few years in the navy, lived most of my life in the Dartmouth area. The waterfront and CNR yard was our playground. My career as a sailor and shipbuilder began when I was 8 or 9 years old. We used to find a couple of logs, some plywood or boards, some rope...and there ya go, we were ready to sail the seven seas! There's no greater thrill (fear) than having your vessel break up on ya! Mum hated us playing in these areas, Dad seemed to understand. Still, someone had to punish us when we got home soaking wet and full of tar and grease! It was worth it! I really believe my generation was the last to enjoy playing outdoors. I never see kids having fun outside anymore. I guess they are all playing with computers and other electronics.

Thanks guys...I really hope there is a way for the 2-8-0 to be available to those who want it....cheers...Rick

 

[froobie]

Hi, Nice 2-8-0, but it's CN :'(

Here is a CPR 2-8-0 shunting at Coalmont, BC

[/URL][/IMG]

and same consist, different view.

[/URL][/IMG]

cheers,
--michael.

 

[froobie]

Hi all,
Same engine, an N2a on the E&N

[/URL][/IMG]

Just crossing Mary St. in View Royal.

and

[/URL][/IMG]

About to cross Wilson St., View Royal.
(View Royal is a suburb of Victoria)

Cheers,
--michael.

 

[rickf77]

Hi Michael;

I always feel the same way when I see all your great CP steamers! I really enjoy looking at what you have done. I spent almost a year in Victoria at Esquimalt (I never could spell that right!), waiting for HMCS Yukon to get out of dry dock. If I had to live anywhere else in this great country, that's where it would be!

Cheers...Rick

 

[froobie]

Hi Rick,

Hi Michael;

I always feel the same way when I see all your great CP steamers! I really enjoy looking at what you have done. I spent almost a year in Victoria at Esquimalt (I never could spell that right!), waiting for HMCS Yukon to get out of dry dock. If I had to live anywhere else in this great country, that's where it would be!

Cheers...Rick

Small freaking world I would guess you're RCN and posted to Halifax. Well, I worked at DREP (Defense Research Establishment Pacific) until it was closed :'( . While I was there, I went to Dartmouth (DREA) regularly. After that I was a contractor (MDA) with DND and went to Halifax often.

Those pics of yours were so good that the old body went into reminiscent mode in a big way. You have captured the essence of Halifax/Dartmouth wonderfully. One of my colleagues at DND Halifax had an 18' sailboat in which he took the project team out for 'cruises'. We spent lots of time in the harbour. Went as far as Darthmouth a couple of times, when the wind was right. Fond memories!

I hope you finish the Dartmouth route. When you do it will be one of my favorites!

Cheers,
--michael.

PS I had to add one more Right at Victoria Station (The E&N is a WIP)

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Rail4Pete]

Nice pic (work) both of you Rick & Michael !
Rail4Pete

 

[rickf77]

Morning guys: I was going to send a couple of pics of the Halifax side, but some days I just can't get photobucket to work. I'll get the hang of it sooner or later!

Michael... I was out there in 1969 or whatever year our southern brothers first walked on the moon. I remember waking up in a strange place in the wee hours and it was on TV. I was in pretty bad shape and was not sure if it was real or I was just seeing things. Love the shots!

Hello Pete... I, and I'm sure everyone else is waiting to see more pics of La Belle Province! My French...she's not so good, eh?!

Cheers....Rick

 

[rickf77]

Halifax, from Dartmouth side

 

[rickf77]

Well, that took forever! I have yet to figure out photobucket...sometimes it works first time, other times I just give up. On my first attempt I just had water over there where Halifax is and had no bridge. Since I'm working in 1956 it just would not be right to leave out the bridge. You can see my problem with it. It's already lower than it should be, but those big honkin' "anchors" are sticking out like a sore thumb. I'm gonna live with it until I figure something out. I wish I had saved my "bare map", but I had already removed the boards where Halifax is. I did save my map after I clipped off the boards I thought I could live without...so, about 95% of the map I'm using is OK. I think I can fix the bridge problem, but it will have to wait for now. Don't mind my bare looking dockyard, just getting things together. Hee, hee, I suppose I should move that stop sign to the other side of the tracks!

Sorry for having the 2 posts...when I got the screenshot to finally show up, I thought I better post it before I screwed up again!

Cheers... Rick

 

[JCitron]

This is great stuff, guys. Even though I come from New England and Massachusetts, we have always had a great relationship and kinship with our neighbors to the north, and especially Nova Scotia. Halifax is our sister city in many ways. Rick's harbor scene is exciting and I wouldn't open up a jar of smelly fish oil, but would surely add some seagulls and ocean sounds here and there. With that summer lighting, I could feel the warm sun on my face and the sea breeze as I looked across the harbor.

Rick don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing a great job there and I sure hope you're enjoying yourself along the way. As Roy said, this take time. When I get stuck in an area, I'll go and do something else then go back afterwards. The second time is usually the winner, but not always.

Roy - I was driving your CPR route last night. I set up a bit of switching near Kicking Horse and then ran to Revelstoke before I took a break. You did a fine job with this route and I sure enjoy the driving. I can't wait to see this in its full glory (We hope) in T:ANE when that's ready for prime time.

John

 

[dragonharh]

looks good are home town is coming along nicely.

 

[froobie]

Hi Folks,

Rick don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing a great job there and I sure hope you're enjoying yourself along the way. As Roy said, this take time. When I get stuck in an area, I'll go and do something else then go back afterwards. The second time is usually the winner, but not always.

John

I do so know what John says about being stuck and moving elsewhere. My solution is to add some whimsey to the route:

First screen shot is at the North West corner of the Kettle Valley route on the Fraser River. The CN track is east side, the CPR track on the west side of the Fraser river, at this particular point. The first shot shows a CN passenger train heading north. The foreground shows froobie's getaway-from-planting-treez. He's in the sailboat.

[/URL][/IMG]

The second shot shows that CN passenger train at the diamond crossing where the CN tracks cross the KVRR. It's just east of Hope BC and south of the previous shot.

[/URL][/IMG]

At the upper right, you can see froobie's country home :hehe:

On a less humourous note; the next shows the CN passenger train at Odlum, where the KVRR joins the CPR mainline.

[/URL][/IMG]

The layout ends north of this spot but does contain the CN and CPR mailine tracks. I cheated and put a loop at the north end of my route here, as well a loop at the south end. So trains can go in circles.

Rick - I have nothing but bad memories of your Halifax bridge. The Cmdr would pick us up, then stop at Timmie's, and then wait in the bridgelock traffic, and we couldn't eat the Tim's until at the meeting in Dockyard.

cheers,
--Michael.

 

[rickf77]

Hi All; Hope ya don't mind a little gabbing. I'm gonna have to try some of the routes I've been seeing in "The Canadian Thread", but that will have to wait for awhile yet. Dang, those boys are gonna make me go into CP territory!

Hi John! I hope all is going well for ya. You are right about the Canadian/US relationship, especially the Maritimes and the northeastern states. We've helped each other out in bad times and nobody forgets about it. I just wish you'd stop sending those nor'easters up here! It's a really beautiful part of the world. Still, our ancestors had to go through some brutal times.

That old porcupine I was feeding has moved off somewhere (I hope), haven't seem him for a couple of weeks. I really like the old boy (or girl). I had to really keep my eyes open, every time I turned around, there he was, looking for an apple or carrot. I never got poked once. Well I did get one small quill stuck in my hand. The wife could not resist patting him (with my gloves on) and there was a quill waiting in there for me when I put them on. I have to tell ya, it's pretty painless going in, but not much fun getting it out! I cannot imagine the pain those poor dogs must go through. She also stuck a bird feeder on the bedroom window. The flying squirrels found it and now I wake up about every 15 minutes to the sounds of cats swatting at the window. Oh well, how many folks get to see a flying squirrel!?

...and a good day to you D! Hope all is great for you, too. You, sir are the main reason I am trying to make my route look better! You know what our good old city looks like! I'm hoping you are young enough not to know what things looked like back in the day! There really were sidings crossing Canal Street at one time. I think I told you before how hard it is to find photos, etc. of the CNR Dartmouth Subdivision. Take care bud, try not to get riled up, just take it easy, you'll be happier that way. Dang, that little fella must have drove you nuts! You're too kind, my friend.

Thanks to all for kind words. I may make something worthy of uploading one of these days!

Cheers...Rick

 

[rickf77]

Hi Michael: Jeez, how long did it take me to write that last epic? Just saw your new pics. Oh, that's nice! Hee, hee, I did the same thing myself yesterday. I put in a little scene of kids on rafts with their mother's yelling at them to get back on dry ground. Ah, the good old days. Gotta go, supper will be flying at me if I don't get down there pronto!

See ya....Rick

 

[froobie]

Video Test

Hi all,
I hope this works. If it did, it's a video of what I've spent the last 2 weeks doing (in between doctors, hospitals and blood tests) It's a section of The KVRR starting at Tulameen BC and proceeding towards Coalmont BC.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzHTsAjcSplmd1FRYXBUMW5KNWs/edit?usp=sharing

(I haven't figured out how to embed the video, however the link should open in a browser. I hope)

Please let me know: if this works, video quality, and Trainz... If you liked the video, I will occasionally do more. (I use videos to QC the work I've been doing).

Test indicate success with Firefox and Google Chrome. I does not work in IE. I wasn't surprised.

Thanks &
cheers,
--Michael.
PS For the geriatric crowd, there is a 30% error rate with the Creatnine (eGFR) test, which sent my sawbones into panic thinking that I had Chronic Kidney Disease. Guess who had one of the 30% tests that reported incorrectly. Whewww

 

[rickf77]

Mornin' Micheal; Works on my end. Nice little show. Most of the Trainz videos I look at seem to have poor video quality. Is this a common problem or just me?

Good news on the test! Jeez, I hate getting old! All ya can do is never give up and refuse to loose. Thank goodness spring is here....well, I'm sure it will show up any day now. I try to do a little exercise and walk a couple of miles everyday. Old man winter made it easy to slack off this year. Well, sitting in front of this thing all hours of the day isn't helping! Stay healthy my friend!

Cheers...Rick..oh yeah, make some more!

 

[rickf77]

Dartmouth Cove

 

[rickf77]

The harbour.....cheers....Rick

 

[froobie]

Hi Rick,
I've spent a while trying sites for video quality, and Youtube: poor quality, tried Photobucket but they compress the video too much: poor quality. So I tried Google Drive and found no restriction as to the size of the video, of course within reason.
The video behind the link was captured using Fraps (30 fps, half size). It was 2:02 in length and had a file size of 2,705,167 KB. I ran it thru a converter/compressor which reduced the size to 75,353 KB. Which is what I uploaded.

The quality as seen via the Firefox or Chrome browser is very noticeably less that looking at the same file side-by-side. I don't have an explanation for the loss in quality. (Google Drive? Firefox?)

Mornin' Micheal; Works on my end. Nice little show. Most of the Trainz videos I look at seem to have poor video quality. Is this a common problem or just me?

[snip]

Cheers...Rick..oh yeah, make some more!

I will, for sure.
cheers,
--Michael.
PS Another bit of whimsey. Bears in BC are a real problem...

[/URL][/IMG]