#museum of trains and trolleys

[vagonca-rigo]

You like trains, I like trains, I wanna share with you a train that connects us more than one would think!

This little adorable 2' Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk locomotive, built in 1940!

One of the final locomotives built by CKD before it became BMM during the occupation.

And somehow, it made its way from Europe, to California, then over to Indiana. And when it arrived at the Hesston Steam Museum in Indiana in the 80s or 90s, they checked it over and found chalk marks on the inside of the boiler from when it was built.

It had never been steamed before!

Anyway hehe wanted to share an adorable little loco Ive seen and ridden behind

RIDDEN BEHIND?? I'M INCREDIBLY JEALOUS!! AND SUCH PRETTY LIVERY....

And it was THAT fresh? Sounds like a successful attempt at saving it from use/dismantling by the nazis, though I see that the story behind it is a complete mystery with only speculations around...still, very interesting!! :3c

[marywoodartdept]

Electric City Trolley Station and Museum

This week, our Off Campus Art News blogger, writes about her recent trip to the “Electric City Trolley Station and Museum”. She shares photos and different things that she did at the museum. This is also Ellies farewell post. Thank you, Ellie! #Marywood

[artistmacposts]

Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Interurban Car #458... and I tell the sad story of how CA&E service ended on a July day in 1957.

[littlewestern]

whats the situation like about who gets to be inside in tfissab

I think everyone would *like* to be inside, and in real life the IRM definitely would like it if everything had a roof over its head, but the reality is that like everything else, barn-building takes time and effort and know-how.

The problem is that (nearly?) every barn on the property not only has to be tracked, it has to be wired. I'm not an expert, but to me this seems like the bigger issue and time sink. Overhead wiring effectively doubles the workload, and you can't forego doing it just because not everything at the museum needs it. I think people often forget that the IRM was a trolley museum first.

In the world of letter-writing engines, it again comes down to the fact that engines in preservation are basically living in perpetual "yeah it would be nice to have this, but at least I'm still *here*" and that tamps down on any resentment an 'outside' engine might feel in the long run.

It also helps that for the most part, the equipment that's stored in a barn is usually stuff that can't be left out. If you have a roof over your head you're either made of stainless steel, or you're at risk of falling apart. Getting parked outside a barn is a sign that your prospects are good! At least you can withstand a little weather and not worry about being damaged beyond repair.

Pilot's situation is special because he's the star attraction and it would be a ridiculous proposition suggest that the Nebraska Zephyr be stored outside. I don't think this causes too much trouble between the rest of the IRM's roster because he's bringing in money, but there are probably some pieces of disused equipment who think it would do him and his train some good to spend a few nights outside. They don't know he did that for years in the 70s lol.

I'll take another opportunity to point out a donation link for the Barn 15 building effort here. As you can see, the amount of money donated to the department is how they determine what's going to get stored there, so this backs up my theory that targeted donations are the way to go if there's stuff you want to see specifically worked on and preserved!

[train-of-the-day]

Train of the day is: Siemens/Schlick/Halske "Old lady" of the Budapest Millennium Underground! ( X )

Only one of such cars is still in operation(number 11 above), but only on specific nostalgia events. They received many refurbishments since their first years in operation, and none resemble the originals' looks 100%. After 70 years, they were scrapped, and got replaced by Ganz MillFAV(fun fact:the make doesn't have an official name!) articulated units. A few other units beside number 11 were also saved after the replacement of the cars in various museums: -Number 12, Hannoversches Straßenbahn-Museum -Number 18, Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine (donated by Brno Museum of Technology) -Number 1 & 19, Földalatti Vasúti Múzeum (images from the inside)

[thehistoriangirl]

The Tides Have Veiled [Eight]

Viktor x Fem!Reader----Gothic AU/ Spooky Sea/---3.6K-----SFW**

> MASTERLIST &lt; <- Previous // Next ->

Synopsis:  Piltover the Old has an old lighthouse that looms over an abandoned port. From the house in the wailing cliff’s edge, the lighthouse owner watches that the beacon is being lighten up each time darkness arrives, so that monsters wouldn't dare to crawl inland, or so legends say. Both buildings are haunted, maybe even the man himself, by both past and present ghosts.

Surprisingly, the keeper’s work is beyond turning on the beacon every night— but the rest is on you to discover.

Chapter Summary: Strange things happen in the city for those who aren't used to its busy streets, so far afar from the sea. Though the water is never so far away to not reach out for you... and maybe not just you.

Tags: Strangers to Lovers | Slow Burn | Fake Marriage | Fluff and Angst | **Mentions and Symptoms of an Unspecified Ilness (TM) | **Mentions of Blood | **Mentions and Imaginery of Drowning | Teeny Tiny Bit Lil Pining | Nightmares|

Taglist: @bittercyder @lunar-monster @local-mr-frog

Eight: The Sea's Call [Pt. 2]

It was strange to see Viktor framed by the bright morning light of the city; hues of red shining through the locks of his hair poking around his ears, the freckles of brown embedded inside his amber eyes.

You couldn’t stop from feeling heat pooling in your stomach when you remembered that you had kissed him minutes ago, a tingling sensation where his lips had brushed yours.

Stop. Focus. You’re staring.

Oh no.

“Is something the matter?” Viktor said, observing you from the corner of his eye before looking away, the cobblestone of the park nearby was uneven under your heels, almost twisting your ankle when he caught your wandering eyes.

“Ah, no, no. Um… I’m just watching the sun.” Why couldn’t just be like him? Viktor looked unfazed by the new sensation of a ring around his finger.

He quirked an eyebrow, amusement inking his tone. “I suppose it’s a rare sight back home.” You nodded, feeling your words stolen from your mouth, any other lie you were about to concoct gone. “I was thinking…” he ventured. “If you’re interested to see my workplace?”

“You mean the Academy?”

“No. For now, I work as a researcher in the Natural Science Museum. It is still managed by the Academy, of course, but I don’t work as a teacher per se.”

 “A museum? Sounds interesting.” You paused, remembering the towers reaching the sky with its black needles, and multicolor glass windows from the main Academy building. “Is it pretty?”

Viktor turned to see you, a soft smile barely curving his lips. “I’ve seen prettier things,” he said, eyes twinkling. “But yes, I’d say it is.”

Hands started to fall from your hairstyle when you nodded, recognizing the trolley station at the opposite corner of the park, surrounded by tiny pine trees. “Let’s go,” you said, almost dragging him toward the car when you saw the small train-like vehicle doubling the avenue. “Before it left us!”

Viktor chuckled, your hand firm in his. “Patience, patience. You’re going to make me fall.”

“I’ll hold you,” you replied, quicker than your brain could analyze the words to tell you that maybe you shouldn’t have told them. “I mean, so you won’t fall.”

Wide golden eyes trained on you for a moment too long before parting from your face, the luminous white light hitting the trolley’s window showing Viktor’s cheeks covered in a faint pink due to the warm day ahead.

“Right,” Viktor muttered, squeezing your hand to guide you inside the trolley before letting go. “Of course.”

Black marble floor echoed with each one of your steps, and some light from the exhibits dimmed without the main chandeliers lit, suspended in the middle of the rooms. You had stopped to admire the building, a new marvel of architecture.

While the Academy was built taking a gothic cathedral in mind, the Natural Science Museum was made of an iron skeleton that could be visible in the arches holding the curved ceiling; gigantic panels of glass let you see the city below.

It made you remember the beacon’s room; and you couldn’t stop from imagining being a keeper here, looking at the city sleep, with only the streetlights as company on those moonless nights.

Here in the flicking landscape, where the past had to place to stay unless encased behind a glass vitrine, in the darkness of a storage room practically forgotten.

You stopped somewhere halfway into the main lobby, following the sign of one of the permanent exhibits toward a side room, the words: The Deepest Fears: Monsters and Legends of the Ocean, prickled your curiosity. Viktor's name shown on a corner of it alongside other researchers.

The exhibit was barely lightened by the tiny beacons framing each specimen and diagram, the first big panel showing an introductory banner with a collage of images, one in which you saw Piltover the Old’s lighthouse in a white-and-black photograph.

The Calling. So it had a name, then.

Stepping further inside, the animals mounted behind the glass looked amorphous, and for a moment you were back in Viktor's office, with the stale salty air, the humidity that seemed to cling into the wallpaper, wanting to seep and break into the surface.

Aquatic serpents bigger than your body, pools of formaldehyde filled with rests of giant squids, teeth of monstrous, giant sharks; your view swept all of them, stopping in one figure that looked almost human against the dimming room.

You felt a weird icking in the pit of your stomach, heavy and unavoidable. The space the specimen occupied was familiar somehow, was it… the once occupant of one of Viktor's entire walls on his basement office?

The siren?

Viktor touched the small of your back, and you opened your eyes, jumping away. “Eh, pardon me. I lost you for a moment,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s go. I’ll show you all the exhibits once the museum opens for the public.”

He pushed you gently in the opposite direction, still smelling the salty marine breeze in this closed space, so far away from the coast. It’s just my imagination, you repeated, like a plea, inside your head. I’m homesick.

Back to the lobby, Viktor walked you toward a simple wooden door that read Authorized personnel only, gesturing for you to go inside, a nude hallway welcoming you as he clicked the door closed behind you.

“The elevator is in the fourth door at the left,” Viktor told you, passing next to you to take the lead, his legs brushing your skirts in the narrow space. Much more so when you got inside the tiny metal cage next to him, your shoulders almost brushing.

“I apologize for not letting you see the whole exhibit,” he said as you felt a pull upward from your insides, the cage lifting with a muffled mechanical rattle. “Some security guards don’t like people visiting them unless the museum is open.” Viktor shrugged. “Sometimes, specimens get stolen from the storage rooms, so you can’t never be less careful.”

“You helped create that exhibit,” you chimed in, planning to say it more like a question, and less of an.. accusation of sorts.

Viktor tilted his head to the side. “… yes, I collaborate in the elaboration of all exhibits regarding marine specimens.” He observed you from the metallic reflection of the elevator’s doors. “Why?”

“I saw the lighthouse,” you muttered, feeling a bit stupid. Well, of course. The nearest settlement from the sea was Piltover the Old, and the city was called after said coastal town; it was only obvious they would have such archives of information about the beacon.

He turned to look at you, this time without the help of any reflections, expecting you to continue once your thoughts had been crafted.

“It’s named, ‘The Calling’,” you said. “Did you know it?”

“Yes, I did.”

You frowned slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Viktor tapped his cane on the floor, the elevator ringing the arrival at the fourth floor, gazing toward the hallway extending in front of you. "Nobody had called it like that since a long time ago."

He stepped out of the elevator, using his cane to stop the doors from closing as your frozen figure regained some senses, though you couldn't stop from asking, ignoring the still silence hung between you two:

"Do you know why is it called that way?"

Light flooded inside the hallway, big windows flanking both sides of the building with a wall separating left and right, filled with offices.

"No," he replied after a long pause in which you thought he wouldn't answer. "I suppose there has to be a chronic about it somewhere in the History Faculty of the Academy."

Some people were already there, mostly the cleaning services, so Viktor slipped his hand into yours, walking side by side toward his office, muttering good morning back to every person who greeted him first.

"I'll see if I can search for it one of these days."

His office was little and cluttered, twin shelves covering the side walls, the desk tucked in the middle, all covered in notes scattered everywhere, filled with scribbles in blue and black ink, books open with paper sheets as marks inside its pages.

Viktor took a pair of coffee mugs and what seemed to be tiny glass bottles that you had seen in the only pharmacy in Piltover the Old, his hands shoving them away, inside a drawer, though you could still see the rim stains of coffee in some of his research papers.

“What do you think?” he said, gesturing for you to sit in the only seat available: behind his desk.

“It looks like your office back home. Minus the light.” You pointed to the window, seeing buildings next to each other in a perpetual hug, streets moving fast and filled with tiny dots, like those of an anthill. "It's pretty," you commented afterward because you didn't know if he was looking for compliments for it.

You could imagine him, back bent while reading some document, writing away as all white light morphed into yellow and then orange before dissipating. How many nights he had spent here, accompanied by his desk lamp, a tiny beacon that may or may not make him remember the lighthouse? Make him remember you.

Don’t be stupid.

Your gaze localized the spines of all the books tucked into the shelves in whatever order let Viktor keep as many inside a row as possible, the titles varying from new white or gold lettering to worn-out voids of black where a name ought to be. His mandatory degrees are on the wall, encased like the specimens down in the exhibits.

“I didn’t know you had studied Literature," you said, pointing to a bachelor's degree next to a specialty in Folk Literature.

“Oh? May I ask why that is?”

You shrugged. “You’re a scientist, aren’t you? Don’t you think Folk Literature is everything people tell you not to do while in science?” You said, remembering your mom’s old books about scientific studies.

Viktor sat on the edge of the desk. “I believe there are some things that aren’t meant to be studied scientifically.” He paused. “Like art.”

“Do you make art, Viktor?” You wanted to see if there was something of his creation in the house, like a forgotten poem or a tale, a watercolor, even.

He shook his head. “Not anymore.” He chuckled. “Though I particularly like to hear people sing.” Reclined on his right hand, he turned to observe you. “Do you sing, by any chance?”

A nervous giggle bubbled out your lips. “Maybe I do, though not that well.”

“Perhaps I could hear you someday,” Viktor commented, and you laughed, not knowing if it was meant to be a joke or not. And too embarrassed to ask.

“Viktor, are you okay?” you said, leaning closer to him so he could hear you among the voice of the filled restaurant, a cool breeze moving the locks of your hair you had decided to set free after visiting the museum.

You were almost finishing your food, while he barely had eaten his now cold spinach cream, playing with the cherry tomatoes on his chicken salad.

He smiled. “Why, yes. Of course. I’m just… not hungry.”

Frowning you looked at him unabashedly; the dark eyebags, hollow cheeks, and paleness of his skin.

“You haven’t eaten anything since we left the town, Viktor.” Settling your napkin aside, you were about to stand up. “Let’s go find a doctor.”

Viktor looked at his plate, lips pursed in a pout. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He sighed. “It always happens to me when I’m in the city. Must be something about the air pollution. I have some medicine in the apartment.”

“Then let’s go!” you said, not caring about the nearby customers looking at you with frowns. “You’ll get sick if you don’t eat soon.” Despite his obvious sickly state, Viktor chuckled. “What’s so funny?” you grumbled, looking for a nearby waiter to ask for the check, and to give you Viktor’s unfinished food as takeout.

“Nothing.” He stood up once everything was settled, his body wobbling more than it was normal. “Huh.”

“Careful.” You rushed to his side, taking him by the arm to stop him from toppling over. “What are you feeling?”

“Just… dizziness,” he mumbled, looking where your hand had taken his arm in a gentle grasp; cheeks tinted red.

You put your free hand on his forehead, golden eyes widened at the gesture. “You’re hot. I think you may have a fever.”

“I’m fine,” Viktor said, stepping away from your touch. “But if it will make you feel calmer, let’s go.”

He wasn’t, but you couldn’t deny how of a good actor he was, his jaw tense to keep the pain inside, steps still firm and continuous, though Viktor leaned too much on his cane. A whole act that only practice could make convincing.

Drowning his objections, you put him in bed, helping take his shoes off as he grumbled that you were exaggerating; though by this point he had become the color of the bedsheets.

You patted a cold cloth on his forehead, dabbing away the beads of cold sweat his shivers produced. Eyelids fluttering close and open, a hazy golden gaze trying to focus on your face leaning closer to his, brows knitted in focus.

“Viktor,” you said. “Viktor, tell me where you keep the medicine.”

He groaned. “I… I promise that it has never been this bad before,” he mumbled, more for himself than for you.

“Viktor, that isn’t important now…”

“I wonder…” Viktor blinked his eyes open, observing your face, from your eyes to your lips, and then back up again before closing them. “They’re… in the kitchen. The cupboard with the tea. It’s labeled.”

You blinked, confusion making your brain work slower, or perhaps it was due to the strange flutter in your stomach. Very childish of you. “Huh,” you said. “I’ll be back right away. Please, do not move.”

You stood up from the edge of the mattress, feeling his hand brushing yours. “Viktor?”

He sighed, his eyes closed so you couldn’t read into them. “It’s… nothing. Thank you.”

You had to climb into a chair to reach the top shelf of the cupboard, with dry leaves labeled inside white ceramic jars until you found the one you were looking for, making him a salvia tea and retrieving some meds from the bottom of the cupboard, a bottle of aspirins with barely a couple of them inside.

You carry it all back to the bedroom on a wooden tray, finding a void in the dipped mattress in which Viktor was supposed to be.

“Viktor?” You say, settling everything on the nightstand, hands pushing aside papers and pens. Then, a cough echoed from the bathroom, the door ajar instead of fully closed, letting you see a line of light filtering from under the entrance. Frozen, with sudden terror, your body took more time than normal to react.

The bathroom door was cold under your rigid fingers, heart climbing to your throat. Inside, the light hit the white mosaics, blinding you until Viktor’s figure materialized in front of you, crouched in front of the lavatory, some of its surface stained with a rosy mix of water and blood.

“Oh my god, Viktor!” You said, collapsing to his side, not really knowing what to do. You could smell the salty taste of blood clinging into the air.

Despite his body jerking with every cough, he had enough force to push you away.

“Viktor…”

“No, don’t come any closer,” he uttered, his coldness piercing like a dagger through your heart. With the back of his hand, he swiped the bold away, though there was still a pink trace of diluted blood in the corner of his mouth. His eyes shone against the lamp, and you couldn’t pinpoint if the unnatural glow was because of the artificial bulb or because his eyes were brimming with tears. “I want… I want to be alone. I’m going to take a bath.”

“Then let me—”

“I appreciate your help, but…” He curled into himself, pushing his hair away from his brow. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

You bit a reply, sinking your teeth into your lips. But what to say? You didn’t have any right to chime into his life, and he had chosen not to accept your help, so there was nothing you could do. Being his fake wife didn't mean he was going to open up to you overnight—if at all. Backtracking your steps, you let the bathroom door open, only to hear it slam close once you were in the hallway, pushed by Viktor's cane.

"I left your meds on the nightstand," your voice echoed, dull against the wooden door. At least he couldn't hear the hurt bleeding from your tone with the wooden surface between you.

He didn't answer, and if he did, your ears were incapable of taking in any sound. Until hours later into the night, with the silence clinging into the witching hours, the apartment lit with the orange glow of the lamp in the living room, barely casting any hues into the hallway you had curled against. Hoping to hear anything from inside the bathroom besides some cough that echoed through your bones as if it had been your chest that was ripping.

The floor was cold and hard, muscles aching every time you moved your legs and back into another position. Viktor didn't wish for your company, or your help today. But maybe he could change his mind, maybe something would happen that would push him into calling you; and what if you were gone by now? Asleep on the couch? You knew he wouldn't dare to wake you up.

You couldn’t with the idea of something happening to him and not noticing.

Shadows crept all around you, the whole apartment growing like a monster, with its eyes set on you, the corners too pronounced, the perfect lair of a predator.

Between the sudden coughs, you heard the familiar splash of water; a wave arriving to shore. The gnawing cold followed; clinging to your feet, legs, hands. It was too dark to see them clearly, but you felt the water clinging to your body, the ever-growing wave escaping from beneath the bathroom door.

Jumping to stand up, you pounded on the door, but it just wouldn't bulge. Your hands were blue from the freezing water, and if that was how your hands looked, you didn't want to imagine how Viktor would be, lying against the cold tile.

Viktor! You wanted to scream, but when you opened your mouth, only water poured outside, one growing from inside your lungs, burning on its way out your throat, salty and heavy like hopeless tears.

Please… you thought, hands scratching the wall to plead for air, but all you could sense was water. The water coming from the bathroom, the one coming from your body; bubbles and foam as if you were in the sea.

A water grave, just like your mother’s.

Did she… feel this way? A burning sensation on the chest, as if lava were inside your nose and throat, setting ablaze the fear and dread of death to let the water take over, leaving only a carcass behind.

You collapsed on your knees, rolling to the side; the water rippling with your hit, surrounding you like an invincible enemy. You couldn't even cry, for your tears were mixed with water.

The scream of the cliff calling you, muffled at first, the light of the living room now gone.

Everything was water. Including you.

That nightmare all over again, with the moonlight barely illuminating the surface of the water as you peeked at the woman jumping off the cliff. You swam closer, as you usually did in this dream, ignoring the voice nagging ominously at you about your mistake. But it was too late. You didn’t stop swimming.

While arriving at the spot where the woman would've fallen, you heard it.

A scream of your name.

Gasping, you inhaled so much air your lungs hurt. Golden eyes were looking at you, eyebrows knitted in worry.

Viktor called your name again. “Are you alright? Why aren’t you sleeping in the bed?”

“Vik… Viktor!” you croaked, taking his cold hands in yours. Taking in the way the lamp in the living room carved his face like that of a statue; intelligible and beautiful. Atemporal. “How are you feeling?”

He waved your question away. “That isn’t important right now. Did you fall? I heard a thump noise outside and came to investigate. What are you doing in the hallway?”

“I’m… fi—” you gasped for air, a dry whistle coming from your throat when you inhaled.

You touched your chest, leaning against the wall. No, no, no… was this another dream? Was this real?

Viktor called your name, taking you by your shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he said, his eyes widening in horror. "Miss, please breathe. You're getting blue. Do it slowly and superficially at first. Just… just see me. We’ll do it together.”

You tried, but something had clung to your chest, a pressure that only grew while looking at Viktor trying to guide your breathing. It blocked your throat, the bigger lump you've felt, and for a moment you wondered if it wasn't an act of revenge from your body, making you accountable for all the times you sealed your tears, now all of them flooding into your makeshift dam, cracking it.

Tears pooled in your eyes, a last plea of agony before you felt the wave coming from inside of you break into your lips.

Collapsing on your knees, you threw up salt water, leaving only a faint trace of pink blood diluted into it.

[1863-project]

hi! i recently went to visit NYC with my friend (it was fun!! veeery crowded but fun) and she mentioned that 1) there are a lot of abandoned rail lines around NYC, some of which have been reopened and 2) there's apparently an event in grand central where they put a lot of the old trains out on display???

i didn't have time but i'd love to check both of those out if i ever visit again - i was wondering if you knew any more about them? + also if you have any other recommendations for what else to see around the city 👉👈 tysm!!!

Hey, I'm so glad you had a great time in my city! NYC is really a wonderful place, even though we're packed like sardines in here.

There are definitely a lot of rail lines that aren't currently in use in and around NYC, as well as some that are only used for freight. We used to be a pretty dense railroad hub (before cars fully took over). The proposed Interborough Express would run on the Bay Ridge Branch of the LIRR, which hasn't carried passengers since 1924 and has been exclusively used for freight since. If you go into neighborhoods that once contained shipping warehouses, like Industry City in Brooklyn, you can find railroad infrastructure if you know where to look still. A bit further afield, they're looking to hopefully someday return rail service to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western's old Lackawanna Cutoff, which would allow New Jersey Transit trains to go non-stop between Hoboken, New Jersey and Scranton, Pennsylvania. And of course, we have a myriad of abandoned subway stations, which you can look for as you pass through on your way to other destinations! (City Hall is the one I recommend trying to see the most - just stay on the 6 Train until it loops around after its last stop and you'll pass through as it gets set up to go back uptown. Or you can become a member of the New York Transit Museum and go on a tour, like I did.)

Actually, visiting the aforementioned New York Transit Museum makes getting into an abandoned station easy as pie. You pay $10 to get in and you're in the old Court Street Station. If you like trains (or trolleys or busses!) on any level I highly recommend it.

RE: Grand Central, that was an old event done for National Train Day, and I don't know if they still do it but it would generally be in early May if they bring it back. I know they've been known to roll out the Hickory Creek for that - it's an observation car that used to be on the 20th Century Limited, the New York Central's flagship service between NYC and Chicago. The Hickory Creek is maintained by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey and it tends to be in their yard in Boonton, NJ when it's not running on private charters.

For other recommendations - oh my God, if you haven't been to the American Museum of Natural History, you have to go. It's my favorite place in the entire world. I'll also recommend the Bronx Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society's headquarters, as they do a lot of work towards the conservation of endangered species and education. If you like baseball, Citi Field (where my useless Mets play) has significantly better food options than Yankee Stadium, and I'm not saying this out of bias - Yankees fans agree with me.

Avoid Times Square. It may be geared towards tourists, but everyone who actually lives here hates it because it's too crowded and you can't get where you're trying to go. If you really have to go to Raising Cane's or Junior's Cheesecake there are locations in Brooklyn that are so much less crowded.

If you have questions on anything specific I'm happy to help! I love sharing my city with other people!

[public-transportation-tournament]

Round 1!

The TCAT, Tompkins County, NY, USA vs Seattle Center Monorail, Seattle, WA, USA

M1 (or Millennium Underground Railway, but also known as "the small underground" by locals), Budapest, Hungary vs Grande Recife, Recife, Brazil

London Underground, Greater London, England vs Rotterdam Metro, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Beamish Tramway, Beamish Museum, Beamish, England vs Catbus/Nekobus, Sayama Hills, Saitama Prefecture, Japan (My Neighbor Totoro)

The New York City Subway system, New York City, NY, USA vs Corviknight Flying Taxi, Galar (Pokémon Sword and Shield)

Buenos Aires Underground (Subte), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina vs Monte Toboggan, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

The Stargate Network, throughout the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies (the Stargate franchise) vs the Deepsea Metro, Inkopolis Bay (Splatoon)

CAT, Perth, Western Australia vs SkyTrain, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Brolly Rail, Nevermoor (Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend) vs Métro Ligne 4, Paris, France

Tyne and Wear Metro, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom vs the REM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (upcoming)

Jeepney, the Philippines vs Sea Train, Water 7, connecting it with St. Poplar, San Faldo, and Pucci, as well as the Judicial Island Enies Lobby (One Piece)

The MTR, Hong Kong, PRC vs the Omnibus, New York, NY, USA (1832)

SeaBus, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada vs Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, Wuppertal, Germany

Ice Highway, the Nether Roof (Minecraft) vs Battle Subway, Unova (Pokémon Black and White)

WY Metro, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom vs Tunnelbana, Stockholm, Sweden

MRT (Moda Raya Terpadu/Mass Rapid Transit), Jakarta, Indonesia vs An Luas, Dublin, Ireland

RIPTA (Rhode Island public transit authority) (it’s buses), Rhode Island, USA vs Bakerloo Line, London Underground, London, England

Mount Vesuvius Funicular Railway, Mount Vesuvius, Italy (opened in 1880, destroyed by volcanic eruption in 1944) vs AquaBus, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Yarra Trams, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia vs SEPTA (southeast pennsylvania transportation authority), Pennsylvania, United States

Cable Cars, San Francisco, California, United States vs MAX Light Rail system, Portland, Oregon, United States

Amtrak, United States vs Fenelon Place Elevator, Dubuque, Iowa, United States

Ninky Nonk, Night Garden (In The Night Garden) vs Prague Metro, Prague, Czech Republic

Polar Bear Express, between Cochrane and Moosonee, Ontario, Canada vs the Crosstown Express, Robot City (Robots (2005))

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the T), Greater Boston, Massachusetts, United States vs Worcester Regional Transit Authority, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Kakola Funicular, Turku, Finland vs Angkutan Kota (Angkot), Indonesia

Galaxy Railways, the Milky Way (The Galaxy Railways (銀河鉄道物語, Ginga Tetsudō Monogatari)) vs The Ride, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

MST Trolley, Monterey, California, United States vs People Mover, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida, United States

Public Transit Victoria, Victoria, Australia vs Carmelit, Haifa, Israel

The L, Chicago, Illinois, United States vs Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), Morgantown, West Virginia vs Helsingin seudun liikenne/Helsingforsregionens trafik/Helsinki Regional Transport, Helsinki, Finland

Gondolas, Venice, Italy vs the Trolley from the Trolley Problem (Philippa Foot came up with it originally, but in media it was also presented in "the good place")

Zahnradbahn Stuttgart (die Zacke), Stuttgart (Marienplatz to Degerloch), Baden-Württemberg, Germany vs Detroit People Mover, Detroit, Michigan, United States

Warp Pipes (Super Mario Bros.) vs SCMaglev, Yamanashi, Japan

Transport Canberra Bus Network, Canberra, Australia vs Stagways, Hallownest (Hollow Knight)

Roosevelt Island Tram, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY, United States vs NJ Transit (Northeast Corridor), New Jersey, United States

Sunrail, Orlando, Florida, United States vs Bay Area Rapid Transit, Bay Area, California, United States

Purple Route (Charm City Circulator), Baltimore, Maryland, United States vs Alderney Ferry (Halifax Transit), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Millennium Line, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada vs MARTA, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Dual Mode Vehicle (DMV), Asa Coast Railway, Shikoku, Japan vs Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Lynmouth, England, UK

Hovercraft, Portsmouth - Ryde, UK vs Funiculars, the Questionable Area (Psychonauts 2)

WildNorWester, Sodor (The Railway Series) vs Shinkansen, Japan

Métro de Paris, Paris, France vs Metro do Porto, Porto, Portugal

Deutsche Bahn, Germany vs UC Davis Unitrans Bus System, Davis, California

Vaporetti, Venice, Italy vs Harbour Bus, Copenhagen, Denmark

[ladychandraofthemoone]

Do Sandy and Kana exist in this universe? If so, were their basis changed so as to keep faithful to the series' British roots? (for example, Sandy being changed from a Motorcar/Rail Speeder into a BR Class 15)

Hi, Sandy and Kana do exist in my au. Sandy is a fairmont mt14 rail speeder/inspection trolley built by the current CME at Crovan’s Gate Dr. Ruth Bell who has also built Philip and Cleo, thus becoming siblings like and best friends. She is currently owned by the works though Sandy loften shunt at the big stations but usually is seen doing track repairs and maintenance on all of the others as well alongside the works gang/crew with her ability to switch her tools.

Sandy also acts as Ruth’s main personal inspection trolley since Cleo isn’t that use to the busy railway life. Also fun fact, both Sandy and Cleo can switch their gauges from miniature-narrow-standard (though this might change for Cleo) sandy especially to help out with maintenance on all the railways (except the cfr though knowing how much spunk and a bit of a daredevil Sandy is, that’s probably for the best.)

Kana on the other hand, works on the Peel Godred Branchline alongside her twin Akira, Riff and Jiff (who’s names are changed) Stafford and a bunch of ocs having been introduced during my take of the International Railway Show Competition in the 90s-early 2000s. Kana and Akira are high speed electric engines (they are either Class 951 Shinkansen built in the 1970s or my take of the BR Class 93 (InterCity 250) billy by Hitachi Rail (so they’re a A-train). that works on the Peel Godred Branch Line extension from Peel Godred to Barrow-In-Furness. They’re both very good friends with the CFR engines.

Once Ruth attempted to make them and some of the other electric engines independent from electricity albeit via power charging stations hence to why Kana tries to go about the island more while the other were content being in one place, mainly to the earl’s estate railway despite her battery draining quicker though they have charging stations in the museums since she’s rechargeable like Stafford as Ruth helped install it at Crovan’s Gate Works, there’s also charging stations at both Ulfstead, Vicarstown and of course Peel Godred itself.

thank you for the ask 👋😊😊

[sweetbeagaming]

Will I get tired of posting train shit? My neurodivergency says no. Last of this particular trolley/museum area for while though lol

[duskodair]

you ever go to a train museum and find a repair engineer's little trolley vehicle for random acts of maintenance (famous for longevity) and discover it was made by R. A. Lister and company and then get the sudden urge to hunt down the writers of red dwarf and ask what machine Rimmer fuckin is then?

[elainemorisi]

every year there's a train festival around here at the train museum, which involves a short little trolley ride you can take, and last year a pair of our neighbors spent all day every leg of that trolley ride doing godawful bad French-Canadian faux-historical cosplay complete with shit accents and if they do it again this year I am Taking Action against them for Crimes Against Autism

[ultrajaphunter]

About the hit on RuZZian Occupied Sevastopol Allegedly 34 killed (11 officers) 40 wounded and 3 Su-27 damaged ... Waiting for official announcement.

As I reported yesterday, Defense forces of Ukraine successfully struck large landing ships "Yamal" and "Azov".

Also communication center of the Black See Fleet, and several military objects of the RuZZian Federation in temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

The Governor of Sevastopol,

Razvozhaev, issued a Statement that 5 out of 6 marine ferries were Damaged (broken windows) in the AFU Attack Last Night and that only one is Operational.

He also Mentioned Multiple Buses and Trolleys were Damaged.

I mention this because the Southern Ferry Terminal is next to where archival satellite imagery shows the RuZZians liked to More their Ropuchas (see below images).

It is also very close to where the the Museum of the Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Navy training ship, the three-masted tall ship "Frigate Khersones (Chersones)", is Moored so I am assuming the latter was damaged as well.

Razvozhaev: «Marine transport:

out of six Boats, five had their windows Broken. One Boat is now operating on the main line “Grafskaya Pier - North Side”.

During the day, the windows of the damaged Boats will be replaced,

and as they are restored they will be brought Back online.

Ground transport:

3 passenger Buses,

13 school Buses and

1 trolleyBus and

a social taxi car were damaged -

the windows were also mostly Broken, one Bus had a Broken Bumper and radiator.

Thanks to the fact that we Recently Received new buses, we have a reserve of Passenger Transport, so the Damage did not affect Transportation;

there are no changes for Passengers. Damaged Vehicles will be Restored by specialists.»

Azov, Yamal Sevastopol Breaking News Storm Shadow Cruise Missile Strike Several Hours ago Sank Yamal (156) and Azov (151), both RuZZian Navy Cold War-era Ropucha-Class Large Landing Ships.

The Black Sea Fleet is Circling the Drain. Good Riddance!

After today’s Defeat of the Large Landing Ships Yamal and Azov, at The Moment the Black Sea Fleet has only Three Working Large Landing Ships Left in Crimea

"Orsk"

"Korolev"

“Nikolai Filchenkov.”

[ratnas]

My 3 Day Bavarian Adventure in Munich

Diverse experiences in Germany

I especially looked forward to this part of our Europe trip as it was not just about my first trip to Germany, but we were traveling by train from Vienna, Austria to Munich, Germany. At last, some change from the usual flight.

The convenience of having the train station at a two-minute walking distance from our hotel, just across the road made things easy. The hotel was generous enough to let us use their luggage trolley and that helped in transportation.

An excellent network of trains all across Europe, connecting its countries, makes traveling so convenient and a pleasant experience. You get to enjoy nature and feel connected.

As the train set off, leaving the grandeurs of Vienna, traversing into a verdant picture postcard countryside. Watching the cute cottages, the emerald woods, and the fields were like a perk that comes with train journeys, a treat to the eyes.

Reaching Munich after a 4-and-a-half-hour train journey

Munich seamlessly blends the contemporary with the medieval, where modern structures stand alongside ancient castles.

Our first destination was the Olympic Park or Olympia Park which has an Olympic Stadium, a picturesque lake, an iconic observation tower, a swimming pool, and a beautiful landscape. This spot is not just a center for leisure and sports activities but a testament to Munich’s diverse offerings.

A guided tour on the toy train takes you around the unique architecture and is worth taking.

Depending upon your time and budget there are 3 options to explore and visitors have to buy separate tickets for them: Palace Rooms with Ludwig 1’s Gallery of Beauties; Park with Pavilions; Marstallmuseum and Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain.

We were also witness to Deutschland’s soccer mania, right in the heart of Munich, the bustling Marienplatz square. Roaring crowds of soccer fans thronged the streets, as a much-anticipated football match was scheduled that day. The excited frenzy extended till the subway as well, as we steered through the cheering crowds to get onto our train.

The central square of Munich is marked by three distinctive features that capture the essence of Munich :

The City Hall Tower — dominates the skyline and offers a captivating viewing deck at its peak. Accessible by an elevator, it provides a breathtaking panorama of the city.

The Fish Fountain: is a cozy corner, where people can sit, relax while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.

Tourists in Germany may encounter language issues to some extent, especially at popular tourist spots. But it was manageable.

[sincityriddler]

SDCC 2023

Was a lot of fun but not what I remembered the con being or feeling. Maybe I went it with to big of expectations that I had things so hyped up that I just set myself up to be disappointed. The one thing that did not change from when I use to go was security and line management. Security had no clue what was going on and kept giving out bad information. Which did not help with the lines and also the volunteers tried to make things easier but got sabotaged by the people in charge. Hard to make things work when you are not being allowed to make things run smoother.

The floor was how I always remembered it to be with lots of people walking around. The big difference this time was that there was no carpet throughout the convention center which did make things tough on your feet. I tried to bring my best worn in shoes but I still ended up with some blisters and sore feet. Which is a lesson learned for next time to be better prepared in the shoe department. Also may bring some better socks as well to try and add some extra cushion. The only shoes that did what they were supposed to do were the Crocs that I wore in my hotel room and to get food in.

The food near the hotel I stayed at was the same as the last time I went so that part was made easy. I stopped at two the restaurants I liked each night I was there and did enjoy some margaritas two of the nights. The burger at this restaurant was very good and the fries where nice and crispy. Which is all you can ask for and makes the food that much more enjoyable. I did get some Subway as well since I could keep the sandwich in my room since it did have a mini fridge. I did do fast food the night before I drove back home to make things easier.

With having a mini fridge in the hotel room I was able to go buy some supplies at Target and keep them in my room. Which saved me some money since I did not have to buy from a vending machines or individually. The only issues I did have one on the first night my travel toothpaste had dried out so had to go buy a new one the next day. I could have gotten one that night but did not realize the hotel had some that could have given me. I will now put that on my checklist so I do not have it happen again and that I have an option if I do run out.

I packed a lot lighter this time with regards to clothes since I was not planning to do anything crazy while I was there. I used a travel on suitcase to keep my clothes in but next time I may bring the bigger suitcase so that I can keep my shoes stored in there as well instead of having them loose. A lesson learned from the number of trips I had to make to the car for both unloading and loading. Shoe bags will be needed but those will get added to my Amazon wish list. That wish list has been filling up with all of the things I know I will need if I go again.

One of those items is going to be a rolling makeup trolley cart. I used a rolling cart I got from the office store which worked but it could have been made a lot easier if it had better storage compartments in it. The makeup cart has a main compartment along with some fold out trays which will be good for keeping some items in that where bouncing around in the other cart. Unless I find some type of organizer for that cart I will be getting the makeup cart before my next trip. Either way things will be made easier and allow for less trips to and from the hotel room.

On Friday I went to a few museums to kill some time between cons days. I have wanted to visit to the museums down there for a while and this was the perfect opportunity to go. The first museum I visited was their Natural History museum which was nice to get to see one that is different than the one I volunteer at. I did take a lot of pictures of some of the exhibits since they did have some cool ones. Went to the Model Train Museum next which is always a fun one to visit. Found out they had an outside garden railroad which I did not see in the past. Also saw a new layout they were putting together that will be cool when it is done.

The last museum I went to go see was the Comic Con museum. They had a lot of older comic con items on display since it was comic con week. They even had a statue of the toucan that is the cons mascot. Including some art of all his different variation’s that has appeared throughout the years. There was a STEM event going on where some of the ladies where wearing comic character costumes for it. The costumes made it more festive and made it more relaxed for kids to ask questions. The last thing I saw there was they had a Pac-man exhibit which did make me feel old.

Overall it was a fun experience with several lessons learned. Did a few things that made it easier but some did not. I do need to get a lighter camera to take with me next time. My old one was killing my neck after a while. I way get a different strap down the road as well to make it easier no matter which camera I use. I was bad about taking pictures which may have been caused by the camera being bulky and a bit cumbersome to use. I do need to get out and use it more than I have been.  I need to get use to using the camera again and taking lots of pictures.

I will probably not be going next year but that will be ok. I stayed under budget but will need some time to rebuild my comic con fund back up again. Until then I will probably just be hitting up some local cons and enjoying those. May even use those to get use to using my camera again.

[crazycomicshow]

SDCC 2023

Was a lot of fun but not what I remembered the con being or feeling. Maybe I went it with to big of expectations that I had things so hyped up that I just set myself up to be disappointed. The one thing that did not change from when I use to go was security and line management. Security had no clue what was going on and kept giving out bad information. Which did not help with the lines and also the volunteers tried to make things easier but got sabotaged by the people in charge. Hard to make things work when you are not being allowed to make things run smoother.

The floor was how I always remembered it to be with lots of people walking around. The big difference this time was that there was no carpet throughout the convention center which did make things tough on your feet. I tried to bring my best worn in shoes but I still ended up with some blisters and sore feet. Which is a lesson learned for next time to be better prepared in the shoe department. Also may bring some better socks as well to try and add some extra cushion. The only shoes that did what they were supposed to do were the Crocs that I wore in my hotel room and to get food in.

The food near the hotel I stayed at was the same as the last time I went so that part was made easy. I stopped at two the restaurants I liked each night I was there and did enjoy some margaritas two of the nights. The burger at this restaurant was very good and the fries where nice and crispy. Which is all you can ask for and makes the food that much more enjoyable. I did get some Subway as well since I could keep the sandwich in my room since it did have a mini fridge. I did do fast food the night before I drove back home to make things easier.

With having a mini fridge in the hotel room I was able to go buy some supplies at Target and keep them in my room. Which saved me some money since I did not have to buy from a vending machines or individually. The only issues I did have one on the first night my travel toothpaste had dried out so had to go buy a new one the next day. I could have gotten one that night but did not realize the hotel had some that could have given me. I will now put that on my checklist so I do not have it happen again and that I have an option if I do run out.

I packed a lot lighter this time with regards to clothes since I was not planning to do anything crazy while I was there. I used a travel on suitcase to keep my clothes in but next time I may bring the bigger suitcase so that I can keep my shoes stored in there as well instead of having them loose. A lesson learned from the number of trips I had to make to the car for both unloading and loading. Shoe bags will be needed but those will get added to my Amazon wish list. That wish list has been filling up with all of the things I know I will need if I go again.

One of those items is going to be a rolling makeup trolley cart. I used a rolling cart I got from the office store which worked but it could have been made a lot easier if it had better storage compartments in it. The makeup cart has a main compartment along with some fold out trays which will be good for keeping some items in that where bouncing around in the other cart. Unless I find some type of organizer for that cart I will be getting the makeup cart before my next trip. Either way things will be made easier and allow for less trips to and from the hotel room.

On Friday I went to a few museums to kill some time between cons days. I have wanted to visit to the museums down there for a while and this was the perfect opportunity to go. The first museum I visited was their Natural History museum which was nice to get to see one that is different than the one I volunteer at. I did take a lot of pictures of some of the exhibits since they did have some cool ones. Went to the Model Train Museum next which is always a fun one to visit. Found out they had an outside garden railroad which I did not see in the past. Also saw a new layout they were putting together that will be cool when it is done.

The last museum I went to go see was the Comic Con museum. They had a lot of older comic con items on display since it was comic con week. They even had a statue of the toucan that is the cons mascot. Including some art of all his different variation’s that has appeared throughout the years. There was a STEM event going on where some of the ladies where wearing comic character costumes for it. The costumes made it more festive and made it more relaxed for kids to ask questions. The last thing I saw there was they had a Pac-man exhibit which did make me feel old.

Overall it was a fun experience with several lessons learned. Did a few things that made it easier but some did not. I do need to get a lighter camera to take with me next time. My old one was killing my neck after a while. I way get a different strap down the road as well to make it easier no matter which camera I use. I was bad about taking pictures which may have been caused by the camera being bulky and a bit cumbersome to use. I do need to get out and use it more than I have been.  I need to get use to using the camera again and taking lots of pictures.

I will probably not be going next year but that will be ok. I stayed under budget but will need some time to rebuild my comic con fund back up again. Until then I will probably just be hitting up some local cons and enjoying those. May even use those to get use to using my camera again.