Category Archives: a boxcar

LET US SLEEP ON IT*

woe betide them that try

to se in stone what needs more time…

My turn table lost?*

without further cost?

Then I looked near bed time!

I thought I’d lost my lead

To that tyrn table, but indeed…

A curve could be made

With large enough radius laid,

To satisfy the using of steam.

A switch I’d previously cut in,

To one engine stall could run…

The other could Branch

From the turn table switch–

My space problem was overcome!

Envisioning a massive water wheel,

Fed by a sluice pipe has appeal…

This motorized–

Already planned (what a surprise?),

For which the tourists would positively SQUEAL!

And then, the bridge over a mill dam flood—

If I wanted, a covered bridge wouldn’t take TOO MUCH blood…!

Just for light tourist trains–

Steel reinforced all the same–

An occasional short freight could be good!

-0

I wish I could draw all this now,

All it took was time to see how…

Possibilities arise

by opening one’s eyes,Imagination plus a day’s-worth of wrinkled brow!

–Jonathan Caswell

*NOTE–Refer back to the post..ECONOMIC CHOICES IN MINIATURE…posted yesterday~!

A VISION OF CONVENIENCE

His layout was headed West,

Now North-South orientation suggests…

An interchange done

In North Grafton,

But not if the cardboard resists!*

Re-arranging the room,

For inspection lighted his gloom…

Found his hand drill

Punched through at will,

A fiddle yard  north will do!++

Pretending it’s North Grafton Yard,

The GRAFTON and UPTON rail yard…

Washington Mills**

Functioning still,

attracted this bard!

Basically freelanced***

The layout’s influenced…

By several N.E roads

Rail carloads,

The ones that most make sense.

-Jonathan Caswell

*See EXIT STAGE LEFT–NOT STAGE RIGHT!

**Washington Mills Abrasives Co. in North Grafton…at one time the sole remaining rail-served industry, beyond a team track!

***Freelanced  is a model railroading term, meaning the modeler is taking elements from several railroads to model, without any one or two being dominant.

__++Fiddle yard is a track or tracks to fiddle–move on and off with hands–rail cars and locos being staged or removed from the main visible part of the model train layout.

NEW HEADER IMAGES:

The Poet’s gone searching again,

For winter scenery then…

GREEN MOUNTAIN’s Alcos—

He’d love to see those—

His favorite engine!

ALCO RS-1’s in the cold,

Working with heart although old…

Giving class

To a road short of cash,

That railroad’s survival they’re owed!

–Jonathan Caswell

 

MODELING MEMORIES

His memories of New England various,

Were by and large vicarious…

Mostly pictures he saw

with interest and awe,

His chances of a visit–hilarious!

Point of fact he was too young,

Couldn’t drive himself even some…

The eight-hour ride

Once a summer left wide,

Window for relevant magazines to come!

Still his interest grew,

Past the time when he knew…

This paint scheme was gone,

these ALCOs moved on.

But the history he wanted to view.

Found an N scale engine thus,

Painted just like this—a plus–

To re-enact

Historical fact,

Without too much fuss!

–Jonathan Caswell

 

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN–SURVIVES!

The train ’round our tree survives,

It must own several lives…

train tracks glued down

won’t shift around,

But the trains do go flying–surprise!

Being careful my wife and I,

Have avoided seeing the train fly…

It at times left the rails

So far my steamer fails,

To run here–I don’t know why?

Helps that we have no kids,

Nor cats to sit amidst…

Not much room

Nor do our trains zoom,

But they’ve been known to do splits!

–Jonathan Caswell

 

 

HOT WEEKEND–SWELTERING HOBBY

His shirt’s soaked with sweat,

Soldering smoke and yet,

He has had fun

Track wiring half done,

The track plan as complete as it will  get!

Still running the air purifier,

Don’t need a humidifier…

Plenty of light–

Three lamps shining bright–

His soldering iron  on fire!

Finalized a couple more spurs

From industry tracks that once were…

Salt shed track

Was modified  back,

To a siding with “green growing fur.”

It’s nearly one electrical block,

If wanted I could cut sections up…

But just one train

For this tired brain,

Spotting cars to load up!

I’m planning the tourist train,

Variety the name of the game…

A simple turn around

The turntable’s sound,

Add a trolley and nothing’s the same.

–Jonathan Caswell

The Poet refers to progress on his N scale switching shelf layout..

 

 

ERA-ATTIC ELUCIDATING!

Valuable older views,

Of local working “choo-choos”

Abounding detail

Of where and which vale,

Researchers like to be less confused!

I think this photo is neat,

My love of the NEW HAVEN is sweet…

That paint scheme I’ll attest

I do love the best,

Details here make my knowledge more complete!

–Jonathan Caswell

(A Google image)

 

IT’S HARD TO STOP OVER-EATING

Response to restrictive diet,

My body rebels in riot…

Just one more snack–

The tummy is packed–

But I keep trying to try it.

Little or no preparation,

Ensures bad complications…

No celery

To encourage me,

With complex carbo. mastication!

It’s called starvation reflex,

Less food puts more stress…

On reserve fat–

Got lots of that–

Adequate supply of that!

I know what to do,

Intellectually too…

Must think ahead

By eating less bread,

Preparing to succeed before I chew.

–Jonathan Caswell

 

 

“RAILROAD”: APPLE SAUCE!

Familiar with these railroad lines,

Central New York State on time…

Delivery pursuit

Of harvested fruit,

Just up my interest line!

One brand using rail there is MOTT’S,

Applesauce, canned fruit, lots…

Activity

The railroad’s busy,

Pulling loads from loading spots.

My friends, Jim and Cornelia Mead,

Who on our Honeymoon guaranteed…

A ride on their train

A kind gesture of them,

I helped Tioga Central* succeed!

Jim Mead and Ontario Lines,

There railroad experience finds…

And Number Fourteen

Was obtained through them,

For “our” Museum on the main line!

–Jonathan Caswell

*See “NUMBER FOURTEEN’S FANCY DRES”, posted July 3rd.

The Tioga Central Railroad ran excursion trains and later freight trains out of Owego, New York, in conjunction with the nearby Tioga Transportation Museum.

 

Image result for LOADING FRUIT ON TRAIN

E & M NUMBER 5

The Edgmoor  and Manetta  Railroad,

Has quite a story told…

Last in Steam–

A seventies dream–

A trestle break caused it to fold!

Old number five,

Was lovingly kept alive…

Shoving one way

In tiny display,

The rail fan press thrived!

Blankets  from the Lando Mill,

South Carolina, drilled…

Two boxcars

Maximum as far

As getting up the hill!

Coal and chemicals came,

In to manufacture the same…

Lasted for years–

The mill still clears

Blankets by truck–what a shame!

–Jonathan  Caswell