Tolga's Railroad Repository

POWER Most of the rock train power we have had has been an array of Dash-8s. In balance, Q453 and Q452 have bounced some goodies. CSX 72 (AC4400CW) - came in on V157-18 11/22, left pretty promptly CSX 231 (AC4400CW) - came in on Q453 11/11, left the next CSX 399 (AC4400CW) - came in on V157-18 11/22 CSX 448 (AC4400CW) - rotated on Rock train power, I think K995 brought it in CSX 8405 (BL SD40-2) - came in on Q453 11/14, left on Q452 CSX 8585 (SD50) - came in on Q453 11/11, left 11/12 on Q452 AMTK 511 (B32-8WH) Hot of the press, came right in on P097 in a "epic" lashup If I get recapped with more power I'll let you guys know in an addendum FEC 711 came back in Champion colors AMTK 189 "Big Game Train" rotated in and out Unit Trains I think it's this month a K962-K961 ran K996-K995 K950-K951 K978-K977- this pair has run frequently V157-18 and V187 I think for the FEC which its cars came in on 109 last Wednesday N016 has been continuing to run to November, but...

I don't usually railfan on weekdays, citing the fact that traffic is just plain a beyotch in South Florida, and usually I'm on campus until 5-6 PM except Mondays, where I'm there until 9 PM. This Friday would have been just like any Friday, but when I heard that FEC 109 was to have two heritage units and was a late runner, my mind changed and I was heading home much earlier. Thanks to my folks for making this possible (I'll be getting me a car soon though). FEC 109  109 ran into Hialeah at 4:50 PM in less than desirable weather. My photoshopping managed to make it a more colorful shot, but I was still unimpressed with the lighting and lack thereof. I'll make a point about the long string of racks later in this entry. I also heard something on the radio which will pertain to the last half of this entry. More related to this, Hialeah Yard on CSX was coming in with Y220 and O721 both building their trains. I decided on a whim to check out Hialeah Yard and get ...

The Holiday Season is fast approaching, and since I am writing with relation to my YouTube channel, I'm thinking it would help to highlight some key activities and events happening around that I may participate in. This is my first year in the University so there are finals in the way; a huge inconvenience and something to accustom to, but something I can work with. It will be interesting to have that extra week off though after finals. Aviation Planespotting at Miami International Airport, Wed. Nov. 27, 2013 - after the two classes that would matter for the day, I'll be watching MIA ops up until Sundown A Day of Railfanning Toys for Tots Train Chase - Tentative - Sat., Dec. 14, 2013. This item will be discussed most likely at a little meeting/getty with the other railfans, it has happened in the past, so that's why I put it in the calendar. If I can't chase it with them for whatever reason, I'll probably catch it locally like done in 2011 (a GRAND way to en...

It felt like yesterday when almost exactly three years ago, the fictious restaurant with promising and riveting detail, to the caliber the Miniatur Wunderland guys pulled off, was completed. The video was posted here to thousands of viewers: The model was pretty much a direct and expanded result of the Burrow set, 4840. It was laden with a limited parts palette and in some respects didn't look right (especially the black back wall for the "Second Floor".) It only served in mini-layouts like the one videotaped, and was downstairs for the Christmas layout in 2010 and 2011. Its spot was lost to McDonald's in 2012, (wow, what a big loss!), but at the same time, the model just began to get dusty and disintegrate. I already lost a huge chunk of sidewalk somewhere in the process. As some may have noticed it never made it to Plant City, and already then it was unofficially slated for retirement. What I really liked about the job I did on it was the fully furnished int...

Photo: Air France 695 lines up for takeoff at Runway 8R during the Sunday, Nov. 17 session of planespotting. Winter time at MIA is one of the best, and most bonafide times of the year to spot planes. While admittedly, the days are shorter, the difference in the diurnal cycle between summer and winter is insignificant compared to many other parts of the world due to the low latitude here in South Florida (truly a three hour difference), and the lighting is much better. Also, the weather is drier offering days of better sunlight. I started the "Spotting Sunday" tradition with famed "Miami Spotter" Carlos L. in the Winter 2011 aviation season (October 2011-March 2012). It was a fun season with lots of great spotting days, favorable (and unfavorable weather) and the development of both our video and photo skills. Summer was a hiatus in 2012, but I still sneaked out (Very Few) times. I picked up the spotting slate again in September with Carlos at the Holes, my f...

Just the fact that I live in Miami makes me look pretty meticulously at the Friends line. Even though I still stand without a single Friends set, I have already gotten a hold of pieces in Bright and dark Pink, Magenta, Medium Azure, and Medium Lavender. Just revealed and listed on Walmart's site is the 41035 Juice Bar . Just like the Heartlake City High, and I believe one or two other buildings, it is a set that I am looking at purchasing because it has just enough good pieces to offset the surplus of others. Features that add punch to this set (no pun intended) include: Flame Yellowish Orange basic brick; these parts are on my considerations list for future bulk, and as such since there isn't so many on this set or any set for that matter, I'll still do it but it's still at a noteworthy quantity in this set. The hue below it is classic orange which is welcome as well. Light (Cool) Yellow Baseplates - Two "Art Deco Curve Plates" and what look like a...

IMG_9691 , a photo by fiu on Flickr. I got caught on camera during the TED event ;)... I'm on the upper left of the shot, beard showing in the blur of the image.

High Speed Rail mentioned or not, the TED talks have piqued my interest and I made sure to book my free tickets for the Fall 2013 TEDxFIU , even willing to miss 25 minutes of an otherwise boring Chemistry lecture to do it. I succeeded, fortunately within that one minute window of availability. When I learned that there was going to be a speech regarding HSR, my anticipation for the event grew. Now that we are on the day of, I did some research for the event to recap what I will be ready to hear about and even discuss, and found (in the site linked above) that the speaker for HSR was missing from the final list even though his topic was still advertised. I did some more looking around and found his twitter with the disappointing news . Even though the topic that stood out really well will not make the cut for me, I still will go regardless and am looking forward to hearing the various topics, especially the topic about quantum physics and the Higgs Bosom. Also, I missed Dr. Marty...

Apparently today's not the day to chase around the Florida East Coast mainline as the line is mute... entirely. Before I become devil's advocate, the more heartening news. The South End of Gifford siding is now renamed in honor of the ailing veteran FEC signalman Robert Bougard. I really appreciate this selfless effort on the RR. He has been a dedicated employee and it is unfortunate that his health status is rough at the moment. Prayers are for a quick and speedy recovery. We remain hopeful and optimistic for him to improve rapidly. The naming conditions allow for the South End to be named "Bougard" and the North End to be named "Gifford". And now, the really negative stuff. Two incidents happened; one minor and one pretty drastic. In Hialeah, a car was stuck on the tracks, and hit by a local from Fort Lauderdale. I believe unfortunately this resulted in a casualty. This happened around noon, and I remember seeing the train lined on the monitor out of Dan...