Say hello to my new little friend....

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 

PHOTOS / DINOSAURS / MONOLOPHOSAURUS 

My newest addition to my dinosaur collection is a Monolophosaurus from the German toy company Schleich.   

The Monolophosaurus is easy to identify by the long crest on the back of its nose, giving it a fearsome appearance. Like a dragon, spikes run from the tip of its head to the tip of its tail. I wonder if it will stay calm. This dinosaur belongs to the family of lizard-hipped dinosaurs. It is probably looking for food right now. It walks along the shore on its strong legs looking for prey. Better not disturb it!

I get most of my dinosaurs from Farm & Fleet, but Barnes & Noble is another source I use.

AMTRAK'S "RAINBOW" PASSENGER TRAINS

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2023 

TRAINS / PASSENGER TRAINS / AMTRAK / BURLINGTON NORTHERN

The early 1970's were a strange time for passenger trains, as the few that were left in operation were all nationalized into an entity known as Amtrak.   

This particular train, which I assume is on old Northern Pacific rails in Jefferson Canyon, Montana is why I find the early days of Amtrak so fascinating: their trains featured cars from multiple railroads.   

On this particular Amtrak train you can see paint schemes from the following railroads:

  • Amtrak (silver cars with red, white & blue trim)
  • Burlington Northern (green & white)
  • Northern Pacific (two-tone green)
  • Union Pacific (yellow)
  • Possibly a Burlington or Santa Fe dining car (all silver)
  • Possibly a Great Northern dome car (blue and white)

Found this photo at The Center for Railroad Photography and Art website.

Link: https://railphoto-art.org/collections/bjorklund/burlington-northern/#!jig[1]/FL/25391668702

Lots of good stuff!

- Pseudo Boethius 




The Gopher/Badger in Superior, Wisconsin

TRAINS / PASSENGER TRAINS / GREAT NORTHERN

This is a photo of what is either the Gopher or Badger passenger train in Superior, Wisconsin in 1969.   The Gopher and Badger trains were operated by the Great Northern railroad between the cities of the "Twin Ports" of Duluth/Superior and the "Twin Cities" of Minneapolis/St.Paul.   Superior is actually located right across the border from Duluth in the state of Wisconsin.   

Notice the colorful consist of passenger cars, in three different Great Northern paint schemes.   

See the original photo here: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/559210/