Train Chasing in Dunsmuir

I took last Friday and went to Dunsmuir, Calif. Former major hub for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is now used by the Union Pacific Railroad. I arrived in time for a crew change…

I later chased this train, a high priority one called the “Z” to train buffs south a few miles and got a couple shots

On the way back from chasing the train, I stopped at the Railroad Park Resort. This place is amazing, there are old cabooses that look brand new, tastefully made into motel suites. There is a resturaunt in some old dinning cars, a gift shop and a very inviting crystal clear swimming pool. All with a magnificent view of the Castle Crags.

More pictures can be seen on my website Tunnel13.com

Deck Cover Project

This project is a little ironic in that, for years I have always wanted to sit on my patio and look up into the shade trees but couldn’t because of an ugly old trailer park-type awning. So, as in my earlier posts, we removed the old awning cover, built a larger deck over the old patio and my dream was fulfilled. Well, after the first season, we realized that the table and chairs were constantly filled with debris and bird poop. We have to keep them covered, or end up cleaning them every time we want to sit to dinner on the deck. An umbrella was out of the question, with our occasional windy days we would have to keep it down. So, a cover was decided, but just a half cover, enough for the dinning table and chairs, but the other half with the Bar-B-Que and Chiminea is not covered, offering views up into the trees and to let smoke drift upwards from the Chiminea and bar-b-que.

Clear fiberglass panels keep us dry, and there is an electrical box for a fan we found, for those muggy windless days.

Chinese New Year~Year of the Rat

Today in Jacksonville, Oregon we went to the Chinese New year parade. The entire town of Jacksonville is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it had a deep relationship with the Chinese in the 1800’s during it’s gold rush. It’s good to have a place like this so close to where you live.

It’s always been a special town to me, growing up and now. As kids we always had a “field trip” to it’s historic museum, sack lunch in the park etc. In 1972 the movie “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” was filmed here almost entirely.

These days they host the world famous Peter Brit Music Festival. Musicians consider it an honor to play here.

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Old Salem, North Carolina

We went to Greensboro, North Carolina to visit my wife’s folks for Christmas. It is about 30-45 minutes from Winston-Salem, NC and we went to Old Salem the day after Christmas to look around the old town that dates back to colonial times, the mid 1700’s, before we were even a country! It is similar to Colonial Williamsburg in that there are people in period dress working various shops. I’m born and raised in Oregon, so the oldest buildings around my area, Jacksonville, OR are from the mid to late 1800’s so this was a special treat for me.

When we arrived in town you could clearly see the R.J. Reynolds tobacco plants right next to the edge of downtown. Just a stones throw away is the old town.

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There is a parking area and a main entry area with lunch bar, gift shops and tickets. You go over a modern but old looking covered bridge into old town.

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Bridge into town………………. Gunsmith …………………..Public well

speaking of public well, we learned that Old Salem had one of the first public water complete with under ground plumbing, Water came to strategic spots around town like above, and to some kitchens!

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Horse drawn carriage ………. old watering trough …..”Single Brothers House”

The town was founded by people of the “Moravian” religion. Young boys lived at home and went to school, young girls were schooled at home. Older boys 14 yrs and up lived at the “Single Brothers House” and schooled and learned a trade there until old enough to marry. Older girls lived in the “Single Sisters House” until old enough to marry. The horse drawn carriage above is right in front of the Single Sisters House.

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neat old doorway …………….Old walls and walks ………bakers

The neat crooked old doorway goes into the young boys school. There are neat walls and walkways every where. We went into the old bakery and watched them make bread. The special of the day was the most incredible loaf of onion bread I’ve ever eaten, and only $4.50 for a 1 lb. loaf! After it cooled slightly, she slopped on some melted butter all over the loaf then bagged it up to sell. my reaction was OMG!!! when we tried a sample, and we bought a loaf for dinner.

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some old buildings…….. Notice there are cars? yes you can drive through town and there are people living in most of the homes along the streets.

All in all it was a pretty good day trip. I have never seen stuff that old (except for when I was stationed in Germany) and still standing and people living and working there. Nothing was “re-constructed” only, originals were remodeled.