JZ Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) This Saturday I will taking my first trip across the Atlantic since 1972, a bit of a cheat really as it was across Clachan Sound. This time I'll be flying to Houston Tx. Plan is that we do some storm chasing, the guys I'm travelling with have done a few trips before, and visit part of the US that many tourists never visit. Driving north, we plan to reach up to Rapid City, North Dakota, visit Mount Rushmore and perhaps take in the Black Hills Central RR and also meet up with another work colleague. I would also like to get to Omaha City to to see the Big Boy there. Also do a bit of groundwork for my US based N scale layout and pick up a few items along the way. Pictures will be posted along the way. Edited May 27, 2021 by JZ 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) You will probably get a better response in USA and Canadian RR’s. I’ll try and move your thread other wise ask Admin to do so.....OK? Do me a favour. If you see a large tornado strike a community see if you can help as well as taking photos........ Best, Pete. Edited May 20, 2014 by trisonic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 20, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) This Saturday I will taking my first trip across the Atlantic since 1972, a bit of a cheat really as it was across Clachan Sound. This time I'll be flying to Houston Tx. Plan is that we do some storm chasing, the guys I'm travelling with have done a few trips before, and visit part of the US that many tourists never visit. Driving north, we plan to reach up to Rapid City, North Dakota, visit Mount Rushmore and perhaps take in the Black Hills Central RR and also meet up with another work colleague. I would also like to get to Omaha City to to see the Big Boy there. Also do a bit of groundwork for my US based N scale layout and pick up a few items along the way. Pictures will be posted along the way. Might be flyimg over you at some point!! Have a good trip and good luck with getting some spectacular photos. My other half will be very envious if you do see some twisters although preferably not ones that kill. Ian PS - if you are going on United you may well be on a Dreamliner - superb plane. Edited May 20, 2014 by roundhouse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 If we get really big weather, we plan to get well away. The two guys I'm with were near the one that hit Moore, Oklahoma last year and kept away once it's power was known. If we do get involved in the aftermath of one striking a community, I couldn't walk away with offering assistance it's not in my nature. As this is primarily a holiday rather than chasing trains, I though Wheeltappers a more apt location. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 We’re always interested in things American... If you see some interesting/odd buildings too; please post photos. Best, Pete. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Sounds quite a trip! I did a trip out of Houston rather a few years ago - but mainly Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, rather than heading north. Don't be too quick getting out of Texas, the whole state has much of interest. If you're nearby, driving down Deeley Plaza in Dallas is quite surreal - suddenly everything falls into place and you realise how little has changed since 22/11/1963. Hope you do get some big weather (but not too big) in the Panhandle. . 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) Sounds like you will be doing the I-45, I-35, US 81 trip. I live in Omaha and my wife's family is in Texas so I do that route at least once a year. If you are coming east on I-80 into Lincoln exit at 48th St and go south, there will be a BIG BNSF hump yard there. There is a big NSF car shop at Havelock, NE. If you follow highway 6 from Lincoln to Gretna it parallels the BNSF. Contact me off list with a date when you will be when you will be in Omaha. If it works out I might have some interesting sightseeing. If you are on holiday, the Old Market area in Omaha is very popular. There is the Strategic Air Museum west on I 80, the Western Heritage Museum, the UP Museum in Council Bluffs. PS : since I live in Omaha, I hope you DON'T find any severe weather. 8-) Edited May 21, 2014 by dave1905 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted May 21, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 21, 2014 Having worked in Houston, I'd get out of there as soon as you can, although the Cajun / Bayou food is good.. It's probably my least favorite of US cities. Dallas is well worth a visit. Apart from Deeley Plaza, go "Uptown" to see old streetcars running on McKinney Avenue. Some splendid eating, drinking and plastic surgery to be experienced in Uptown.. Out in Frisco (North suburban Dallas) is the collection of the "Museum of the American Railroad" which used to be at the State Fair Park until last year. Including a Big Boy and many other interesting items. The TRE (Trinity Regional Express) runs RDCs on suburban passenger service out of Dallas Union station (itself well worth a look). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w124bob Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Always fancied doing a US road trip, as a Mancunian I fancied visiting doing all 26 Manchester's listed in my out of date Rand McNally. Bit of railroad action could creep in as well, as I model in HO, US shortlines. Sadly I hate flying so it's not likely to happen, but enjoy your trip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 21, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 21, 2014 We used to fly into DFW on our USA trips from Gatwick until they moved to Heathrow. Used to be a great service with stop overs at no additional cost, so we often visited Dallas and Fort Worth. However in recent years American Airlines just haven't been competitive when booking flights across the pond. Must go back to Texas soon as we enjoyed visiting the state including places such as Austin and Galveston. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Austin is a great music center too - particularly in the bars - definitely better than Memphis or N’Orleans.... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 All useful stuff, thanks for the input. The original intention was to fly to DFW, but opted for Houston as we could get cheap tickets via a colleague who's wife works for BA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 22, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 22, 2014 This is a very good shop if you get chance to visit. Discount Model Trains - 4641 Ratliff Ln, Addison, TX 75001-5314, (972) 931-8135 Its an industrial building next ot Addison airport North of downtown Dallas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 Arrived here OK. It was good to see that the Houston immigration control treated people with the disdain I had been warned of. Gates were being shut while they still had queues, Black guy a couple of gates from me was asked "And why are you coming to the USA, boy", and a Japanese lad in the queue next to me had the gate closed in front of him after they let his girlfriend through, then told him to join the back of another queue. I let him through ahead of me to the obvious annoyance of the guy pulling the barriers across, though the people behind me were equally gobsmacked, so were happy for me to do so. Once through the airport my impression of Texans changed, with nothing but good service. No pictures yet, but should be getting some today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 25, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 25, 2014 (edited) We have had mixed experiences going through various US border points. Most are very good but you can't beat the Canadian immigration. The worst one we had was on our first visit to the USA to Boston in 1989. We joined the queue with all the other 'aliens'. When we got to the front of the Queue the immigration officer noticed that we had our feet on the yellow line. He shut the doomsday like book he was looking through to check the person at the counter, told us to move back then opened up the book and started going through it again. Luckily they have removed the Alien signage and now use computers to check us. Edited May 25, 2014 by roundhouse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) From 1989 to 1995 I went through Charlotte so often (to/from Gatwick on the then very good US Airways) that I got to know the apparently only Immigration official there. I did the trip so often (in Club - there was no First Class) that I earned enough points to fly First Class from Greensboro to Newark (for Manhattan) free for the entire period of 1991 to 1996 - nearly every other week! Those were the days alright... Btw you should try getting into the UK via Heathrow if you are a US Citizen (which I am not).... Best, Pete. Edited May 26, 2014 by trisonic 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted May 26, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 26, 2014 I must admit that I am glad that I am an EU citizen when passing through UK border control. These days the queues can be horrendous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 If JZ was wanting to do some storm chasing, lots of heavy rains, thunderstorms and flash flooding from the Gulf coast up through Oklahoma. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Spent last night in Rapid City, SD. Drove up from Amarillo yesterday. Visiting Mt Rushmore today and possibly the Badlands tomorrow. Storms predicted here for next two days. Loads of ideas for my layout, but one question. My layout set late fifties early sixties, when did the plethora of roadside signs start? Although they may not be required if I model a small town. Probably leave posting pictures until I return as most will need resizing. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Wow! I shall await your pics with great interest as (I think!) Rapid City was about the main city of the "cowboy line" on 'my' RR, the C&NW - especially interesting when it was an almost all Alco powered line. I shall have a look through my books and see if I can give any clues about the roadside signs. Cheers, John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 My layout will be set in Kansas. No need for a backscene . One of the chaps I'm with showed me a picture of Dorrance from last year and it was just what I had envisaged, although on a slightly larger scale. Popping down town in a moment to Who's Hobbies to see if I can pick up a Walther's silo kit and a suitable water tower, will also look for some suitable dwellings. Also on the lookout for period cars. And I must have a church as there are so many places after your God Dollar. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 At the end the Rapid City operation was an island not connected to the CNW. The only way they could get engines to or from there was to send them over the BNSF via Northport or over the DME out of Mankato. The DME was cheaper but was a magical mystery tour that took days to go either way. The clay that was mined in Rapid City was used as a binder to make taconite, among other things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Today took some pictures with my pocket camera. The first are from Dorrance, Kansas. This is what I want to recreate, although many town like this are 'identikit', the building style here is common across the mid-west, visited the similar town of Newcastle, Texas last week. The layout itself will be up in the loft, giving me about 17' x 10' to play with and it will be minimalist. A very small town, 6-7 shops, auto shop and church, very few dwellings, maybe a small farmstead with windmill, one very large grain elevator and that will be it. Rail wise, a siding and a spur or two and the rest a single line running across the plain. Not worked out how to achieve a scenic break for a fiddle yard on the other side of the loft. Maybe a low cutting? I will also include a bridge across a dry creek and I have a nice girder bridge to cross a river. Anyway, enough waffle. And ni visit to Omaha should be without the obligatory picture of yer man standing in front of this beastie. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) Julian - the scenario you describe sounds exactly like a very small layout from RMC away back in time - Richard Francavigllias (sp?) IOTA - if you can;t find it when you get home email me and I'll dig the article out for you EDIT - there is an entry regarding this here http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page70/ ...and a larger version here http://huntervalleylines.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1&pid=8 Edited June 3, 2014 by shortliner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) If JZ wanted to see some storms and is still in the Omaha area, there is a big storm coming across eastern Nebraska now, from Omaha to Souix City dropping up to 4" hail and hurricane force winds. One of my co-worker's dad had the leaves and bark stripped of some trees and it blew over some pivot irrigators. Edited June 3, 2014 by dave1905 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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