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| Texas Oilfield |
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| Colorado Ski Slope |
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| Village |
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| Long view of one row |
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| Working turntable |
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| Just one aisle! |
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Pictures - Trainland USA
Trainland USA - Colfax, IA
On Wednesday we had a LONG 7 hour drive from Union, IL to Altoona, IA where we were registered to camp while visiting the Lionel train layout at Trainland U.S.A in Colfax, IA. The campground was huge, and was a part of the Adventure Land complex in Altoona. The complex included a horse race track, casino, and an amusement park. No, we didn't partake of any of those amusements!
On Thursday we drove about 15 miles to Colfax, IA and were totally amazed by the layouts in Trainland! In 1964 Red Atwood became interested in collecting Lional O gauge trains. As the years passed, the trains began to accumulate. He began to dream of building one of the world's largest displays. In 1981 he built a new home to accommodate this project. Five years later his dream was fulfilled. The exhibit represents three eras of time: frontier, steam and diesel. The display area is the size of two average style homes. All scenery is hand painted and all is glass enclosed. There are about 60 operating Lionel accessories. Some interesting statistics:
1. Over 2600 square feet of display area
2. 4000 feet of track
3. 25,000 feet of wire
4. 2 1/2 tons of plaster
5. 8 speaker stereo system with railroad sounds
6. 200 buildings
7. 600 lights
8. Numerous push buttons that operate animated displays
After spending 3 hours enjoying a tour of the USA via the layout and happily pushing all the buttons to operate the display, we went out to the full size train car and visited for 1/2 hour with Red Atwood. There is also a 150 year old CNW depot from Calamus, IA on the site, and a red caboose that can be used for children's parties!
On Thursday we drove about 15 miles to Colfax, IA and were totally amazed by the layouts in Trainland! In 1964 Red Atwood became interested in collecting Lional O gauge trains. As the years passed, the trains began to accumulate. He began to dream of building one of the world's largest displays. In 1981 he built a new home to accommodate this project. Five years later his dream was fulfilled. The exhibit represents three eras of time: frontier, steam and diesel. The display area is the size of two average style homes. All scenery is hand painted and all is glass enclosed. There are about 60 operating Lionel accessories. Some interesting statistics:
1. Over 2600 square feet of display area
2. 4000 feet of track
3. 25,000 feet of wire
4. 2 1/2 tons of plaster
5. 8 speaker stereo system with railroad sounds
6. 200 buildings
7. 600 lights
8. Numerous push buttons that operate animated displays
After spending 3 hours enjoying a tour of the USA via the layout and happily pushing all the buttons to operate the display, we went out to the full size train car and visited for 1/2 hour with Red Atwood. There is also a 150 year old CNW depot from Calamus, IA on the site, and a red caboose that can be used for children's parties!
Illinois Railway Museum - Union, IL
Sunday June 12 we left steamy hot Anderson, IN and headed for Union IL. As we drove north on I-65N we noticed that eventually the temp registered 75, then 68, and then 62. Stopped for fuel and I was dressed for the heat. Wow! How refreshing! Monday was chore day in camp. On Tuesday we drove "up the road" to the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM).
Our first experience was a 30 minute ride on an electric engine which used to travel between suburbs and carry passengers into the City. Explored the train depot that had been brought into the Museum and then explored 6 huge barns which contained rows of rolling stock. The first barn contained passenger cars and pullman cars. They had built an elevated walk-way so that you could look into the cars. Several of the cars were open for walking though, which was really fun--coaches, club cars, dining cars, and sleepers. Other barns contained street cars, electric trains, huge engines, and steam engines. There was a diner on the site, so we stopped for lunch and then explored the book store (on trains of course!) and the souvenir shop. The young lady working in the shop was in high school, and had a lot of questions about North Carolina.
Our first experience was a 30 minute ride on an electric engine which used to travel between suburbs and carry passengers into the City. Explored the train depot that had been brought into the Museum and then explored 6 huge barns which contained rows of rolling stock. The first barn contained passenger cars and pullman cars. They had built an elevated walk-way so that you could look into the cars. Several of the cars were open for walking though, which was really fun--coaches, club cars, dining cars, and sleepers. Other barns contained street cars, electric trains, huge engines, and steam engines. There was a diner on the site, so we stopped for lunch and then explored the book store (on trains of course!) and the souvenir shop. The young lady working in the shop was in high school, and had a lot of questions about North Carolina.
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| The electric car we road when we arrived. |
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| My favorite engine! |
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| That's one big snow plow! |
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| Jack by a double diesel engine |
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| Ready to head back to camp |
Monday, June 13, 2016
June 4-11, 2016
We left Crosswinds on Saturday morning and drove to Fort Mills, SC where we camped at the KOA for the weekend. Our purpose in being there was to visit our friend, Deb Clark, and as an added bonus we enjoyed the Levine Museum on Sunday afternoon before we went to Deb's. The Levine traces the history of Charlotte from after the Civil War to the present. We really were lucky that the Museum was free that day as well as the parking ramp next door!
On Tuesday we arrived at our campground in Granville, TN. Our purpose in being in TN was to visit the Cookeville, TN Railroad Museum. The campground, however, was about 25 miles up into the mountains, and took 45 minutes to get down to Cookeville! Imagine our surprise when we got to the campground and discovered no cell phone service, no wifi, and no tv! The town of Granville was only two blocks away, and we were able to get 1 bar on the cell phone so could at least let the family know why they couldn't reach us! It's a historic town, and the only businesses open were a gas/deli and the post office. The historical buildings were open W-Saturday from 10-3.
We drove to Cookeville on Wednesday and enjoyed breakfast at Mcdonald's and then visited the train museum. It was very nicely done, and we enjoyed seeing their rolling stock, as well as a big model train set up showing the town in the 50's. The volunteer was very friendly and we enjoyed visiting with her. When we got back to Granville we visited the historic Sutter store.
Thursday we headed north to the Louisville, KY KOA and on Friday drove on to Anderson, IN where we camped until Sunday. The area was suffering from 90+ degree temps and high humidity. Thankfully the Air Conditioner worked well. We drove to the IN Transportation Museum in Noblesville, IN on Saturday morning and learned about the museum and the Silver Nickle RR. There were only two engines available to get into and a caboose. I found the information on the history of hobos to be extremely interesting.
For our Catholic friends, we attended Mass on Saturday afternoon....and the church was NOT air conditioned! Whew! We sat by an open window with a breeze, but that didn't help. Brought back memories of growing up in our home parishes that didn't have AC!
On Tuesday we arrived at our campground in Granville, TN. Our purpose in being in TN was to visit the Cookeville, TN Railroad Museum. The campground, however, was about 25 miles up into the mountains, and took 45 minutes to get down to Cookeville! Imagine our surprise when we got to the campground and discovered no cell phone service, no wifi, and no tv! The town of Granville was only two blocks away, and we were able to get 1 bar on the cell phone so could at least let the family know why they couldn't reach us! It's a historic town, and the only businesses open were a gas/deli and the post office. The historical buildings were open W-Saturday from 10-3.
We drove to Cookeville on Wednesday and enjoyed breakfast at Mcdonald's and then visited the train museum. It was very nicely done, and we enjoyed seeing their rolling stock, as well as a big model train set up showing the town in the 50's. The volunteer was very friendly and we enjoyed visiting with her. When we got back to Granville we visited the historic Sutter store.
Thursday we headed north to the Louisville, KY KOA and on Friday drove on to Anderson, IN where we camped until Sunday. The area was suffering from 90+ degree temps and high humidity. Thankfully the Air Conditioner worked well. We drove to the IN Transportation Museum in Noblesville, IN on Saturday morning and learned about the museum and the Silver Nickle RR. There were only two engines available to get into and a caboose. I found the information on the history of hobos to be extremely interesting.
For our Catholic friends, we attended Mass on Saturday afternoon....and the church was NOT air conditioned! Whew! We sat by an open window with a breeze, but that didn't help. Brought back memories of growing up in our home parishes that didn't have AC!
Pictures!
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| At the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC |
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| Jack should have been born early enough to be an engineer! |
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| The Mendenhall Plantation |
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| In front of the Richard Mendenhall Historic Marker |
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Summer travels 2016
IOur summer trip started from Raleigh on June 1 with a short hop to our first campground, Crosswinds Family Campground about an hour from Charlotte. It's a beautiful campground and we'll likely camp there again in the future! Our theme this year is Railroad Museums (rolling stock and model train museums). It made perfect sense to stop at the train museum in Spencer, NC. Wow! They've really made some improvements since we were there about 20 years ago! They now have classic cars, a bicycle exhibit and of course TRAINS! There is a short train ride through the facility, but we chose not to ride. Enjoyed our stay, and since it was only about 5 miles from our campsite, we went back into Spencer for breakfast at the Be-Bop Diner. Good food and friendly folks! The second day we drove to Historic Jamestown (right outside Highpoint) to the Mendenhall Plantation.
In 1744 the Earl of Granville sold a sizable tract to James Mendenhall for 10 schillings. James was the grandfather of Richard Mendenhall, the builder of the home. Jamestown was named for James Mendenhall. The first house was built in 1811 and in 1840 was expanded to it's current size. The Mendenhalls were Quakers and their house reflects a humble lifestyle. The site includes a spring house and a Pennsylvania Bank Barn. Inside the barn is a false-bottom wagon which was used during the time of the Underground Railroad. Quakers opposed slavery, and the Mendenhalls assisted blacks escaping north. It is speculated that runaway slaves were harbored in the Mendenhall's basement. It's an interesting place to visit, about 90 miles from Raleigh.
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