Trains For An Engineer

I just opened a store on Zazzle.com. I've posted some train products on there, including shirts, a hat, a mug, postage stamps, and a poster print. You can customize most of the products before you order them. Check it out!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

RailDriver now supports Rail Simulator. Download the RailDriver software here. Rail Simulator also has a couple updates that I should install. It looks like it is time to get the RailDriver out again and start driving trains!

I just came across this article on MSNBC: Top 10 reasons to travel by train
(Not that I need any convincing!)

The Milwaukee Road 261 came through Norwood Young America today. I can't show you any pictures, as I didn't have my camera with me. They had a few passenger cars (including the Cedar Rapids), but no passengers. I'm assuming this was a "test run" to make sure everything is working. I found their shop blog online. It talks about some of the work they have been doing on the 261 and the rolling stock. It also mentions a first fire-up in early May ... so I think that is what I saw today.

I was fortunate to be outside to hear the steam whistle, and I got to the grade crossing just in time!

I have upgraded this blog to Movable Type 4. Let me know if you see any problems!

Metro Transit has released the design of the locomotives for the new Nortstar Commuter Rail. You can view the press release here, which includes graphics showing the design.

According to the press release, the locomotives will be remanufactured MP-36 locomotives from Motive Power.

A good modeler (which would not be me) could probably make a model based off the graphics included with the press release. If anyone makes one, I'd like to see a photo!

I have created a store on CafePress. I am selling clothing and other items featuring photos I have taken of trains. Take a look and let me know what you think.

My store: Brian's Trains

A recent blog entry on the Yard Limits blog (by a member of the Microsoft Train Simulator development team) has a link to a video showing the current capabilities of the FSX platform at ground level. The new Microsoft Train Simulator will be based on the FSX platform, so this is what they are starting with. Take a look! I'm very impressed, and I have decided two things based on watching that video:
1) I have to get the new Microsoft Train Simulator when it is released! :-)
2) My current computer won't be able to handle it. :-(

Microsoft is working on a new version of the Microsoft Train Simulator. This will be based on technology used in Microsoft Flight Simulator X. You can read about it on the Microsoft Train Simulator website. There isn't much information right now, but there are links to the blogs of some of the development team.

Some more pictures from Wayzata, September 9, 2006.

These first pictures are taken from the train. This was on the way back from Howard Lake, so the train was being pulled by the diesel. It didn't occur to me to take pictures toward the other end of the train to get the 261 steam locomotive.

Next are some shots from when we were back in Wayzata.

You can see the locomotives (steam and diesel) in the previous post, "Locomotives."

If you'd like to see more pictures of this train or of the freight train in the previous post, let me know. I have some more I can post!