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Recent content by artfull dodger

  1. artfull dodger

    My obsession with trains, new video

    You can still get a good tingle if you lay your hand across modern Lionel train tracks. Wont hurt you but you can feel it if your hand is a bit damp. I have even more trains inside. Trains, both real and model have and always will be my obsession. Mike
  2. artfull dodger

    My obsession with trains, new video

    Here is a new video of my outdoor "G" scale railroad in my back yard. The weather was beautiful today, so I finished up wiring up all the building lights, then ran the train at twilight and took a video. Enjoy. Mike the Aspie.
  3. artfull dodger

    Why children with autism love trains (and the 10 best UK rail adventures for families)

    Been a huge train, both real and model, fan since I was a toddler. The interest has never gone away and even as someone on the spectrum, I do not know why I am drawn to trains, just always have been.
  4. artfull dodger

    Starting building me a new Lionel train layout

    The prices for older Lionel are not nearly as high was they were a few years ago. Only the mint/boxed stuff really commands the high dollers and also, not nearly as high as they were. If you have old trains, I highly suggest getting them out, getting them serviced and run/enjoy them.
  5. artfull dodger

    Starting building me a new Lionel train layout

    While I enjoy my G scale LGB trains outdoors, my one true obsession in model trains is Lionel brand trains. They have been since I was a very young boy. They provided the miniature world that I escaped into when the world was to much to process, espically with the constant bullying thru middle...
  6. artfull dodger

    Easter morning running a live steam train

    Was a beautiful sunny morning, which is now turning cloudy as the snow storm approaches. But being so nice, I got out my new live steam locomotive for some fun. He is named Frank S and was made by LGB/Aster back in 1989. Fired with butane gas to create steam. Running on my small raised...
  7. artfull dodger

    Autism Service Dogs

    I would call them an "emotional support dog", when I took our new Golden Retriever puppy in for his shots, he was so well behaved, not a single bark where as all the other dogs were barking thier heads off. A lady seen my autism T shirt and asked if he was my emotional support dog. And while...
  8. artfull dodger

    Coping better with noisy enviroments

    I am learning that even at events where I am really enjoying myself that to much noise, even if it is not painful for me, can and does leave me exhausted afterwards. Yesterday I went to my most favorite event, a large model train show. Packed with familys and loud kids, everybody talking...
  9. artfull dodger

    Financial incompetence?

    My wife controls our finances and if something happens to her, I have a trustee set up to do the same. If left to my own devices, I will spend all my income on eating out for every meal and on my obsession(model trains). So, yes, I have to have assistance with finances.
  10. artfull dodger

    More of Mike's trains

    Yes, I do plan to paint one of them, the Interurban car. The steam locomotive will remain unpainted as it was given to my by a long time friend and it will be mostly for display. My layout will focus on the electric Interurban railway with the proper trolley wire strung between the poles for...
  11. artfull dodger

    More of Mike's trains

    Thanks, here is a pic of the Interurban car and the new power poles that will eventualy have the overhead wire(trolley wire) that will supply power to the car via the poles on top that in the down(stowed) position right now. Need many more poles first though.
  12. artfull dodger

    More of Mike's trains

    Here is a pic of my diesel pulling a short freight. Mike
  13. artfull dodger

    More of Mike's trains

    Mia, that is an Alco FA series diesel, Alcos where known for lots of black exhaust smoke when quickly accelerating due to turbo charger lag. Many called them honorary steam engines due to this. They were the competitor to the EMD F series diesel. Unfortunatly they played second fiddle to EMD...
  14. artfull dodger

    More of Mike's trains

    With my new job and much higher income, comes the ablity to enjoy my obsession/hobby much easier. One of my passions in the smaller scale(HO scale) is brass models. Moslty made in Japan and then South Korea once the cost to build the models in Japan became to expensive. These are hand...
  15. artfull dodger

    Mike's way to "break the ice" at antique tractor shows

    I love antique tractor shows almost as much as model train shows. They are a highly social event. To that end, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. My inablity to keep a tractor more than a few weeks or months an to help start conversations with strangers when I display or ride my...
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