It has been some time since I've update my blog . I've wanted to update my blog and website with some new pictures from the roundhouse. My brakeman class is almost complete. I have learned a lot since this class started. In a couple of weeks, I will have a test on what I have learned in the class room. So far, I have not received any hands on experience. I will find out this Saturday when I can get a ride on a local shortline here in town.

I promise, I will update ny blog again within the next few days.

I’ve been away from updating my blog for sometime now. There are no real excuses expect pure laziness on my part. My very brief statement sums my new found thoughts and feelings about railroading.

For the last 5 weeks, I’ve been learning the trade of a railroad brakeman. My class is taught and held at Midwest(http://www.midwestrailway.org/). I usually tell friends and family that I’m going to hang out at “the roundhouse”. For about two and a half hours every Saturday morning, we have reviewed railroad operating rules and air brakes. I will admit that I thought I knew everything about railroading until I started to learn about railroading. This class brings me a different aspect on the world of railroading and those who perform duties for a living. It’s hard work that must be performed with the up most safety and respect for the equipment at all times. The air brake system for a train is really interesting to me. There are so many parts that make up this system. You have the triple value, reservoirs, compressors, air hoses, brake pipes and so on. You learn little things. It takes 7 minutes to charge the air on a train, 8-11 minutes to charge up to 50 cars and 18-25 minutes to charge up to 100 cars. I’ll guess it takes a lot longer to charge trains over 100 cars. I’m confused how trains with helpers and how they are able to help recharge the brake system. We will soon learn how to get on and off equipment that is moving (not fast, just up to 5 mph), couple and uncouple cars, learn the hand signals and read railroad timetables. But before we can learn how to do the things above, we have to put back our turn table.

The roundhouse was built in 1906 and I will assume that the table was installed at the same time (that makes it 102 years old!). A few years back, someone was working on something and had the Pettiebone crane on part of the table. Somehow, some of the wood ties became cracked. This issue soon opened the door for other issues. When our RS3 locomotive was placed one the table to move cars around, the one end would dip down about 7-8 inches. This would cause the engine to have to climb to the track near the roundhouse. We started the project with hopes to replace the bad ties. Now the project has taken on bigger issues. For the first time since the table was built, the wheels have been turned. They are all nice and round now. This will allow the table to rotate smoothly now. Also, the housing for these wheels will allow for regularly greasing. Next week, I’ll post pictures of our turn table.

I've been a huge slacker lately. I have plenty to share from a new and fresh view of railroading, kind of.

I'm now in learning how to become a brakeman. There is a different side of railroading that I have been exposed to.

A lot more to come really soon.

Another year is here already. Some people like to make goals for the upcoming year. I really don't make goals at the start of a new year. One thing that I will do this year is upgrade my lenses for my Canon Rebel XTi to Canon's L series.

Over at Railroadforums.com, there is a monthly photo contest. For the month of January, it deals with the cold(http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21540. While driving home last Saturday from the roundhouse(Midwest), I passed the old Erie Railroad yard on East 55th. NS was there putting a train together to clear out the yard for the week. Some of the cars in the train contain scrap metal that was steaming. If I was smart that day, I would have pulled over to get some pictures of steam coming from the gondolas. I still have the rest of the month to come up with something interesting........

I'm starting to consider myself more than an amateur photographer. I have had my website for years now. It is time for my photos to be share with the outside world, not just to rail fans. There are a few websites out there that are viewed by other photographers. Two that come into my mind are Flicker (www.flicker.com) and PBASE (www.pbase.com). I have recently opened an account with Flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clevelandtrains/) and soon at PBASE. I'm still trying to figure out which site to go with. Maybe for more exposer I should use both. Updates will follow about this subject.