The basement dwellers...

We traveled to Evanston Wyoming yesterday to see a model train show and get some high test beer.  One out of two isn't bad, right?  I like trains.  Skyler likes trains.  Model trains are cool.  The people that put on and attend model train shows are a little off.  OK, a lot off.  These are grown men that never come out of their basements except for model train shows.  Most of them don't even get cleaned up when they do come out.  It was a real eye opener!  Other than the weirdo basement dwellers, we had a nice time.  The city of Evanston is restoring the old UP roundhouse for their city complex and the part they have completed is awesome.  It was nice to get out and the temp was near perfect up there.  It must have been a good time, Skyler had 2 naps!

My nearly 12 year old truck turned 36,000 miles yesterday!

Someone got a couple of new toys at the local farm store in Evanston.

We had lunch near the riverwalk. 

Someone was way more interested in watching the water than eating.

Train!

More train!

It was a container train, approx. 15,000 tons.

We spotted several frogs along the banks of the pond after lunch.

Inside the roundhouse where the nerdshow, er, train show took place.

Original rails cemented in the floor.

The existing yet to be restored portion of the roundhouse.

The restored side.

Showing where the restored side ends and existing starts.

Turntable!

We rode it!

It still uses the original contactor ring.

The original roundhouse pit.

Lots of work to do still.

There were a bunch of out of certification tank cars parked nearby.  Hmm...

Imagine this shot with a train on the turntable 60 years ago.

UP's old power plant.

We climbed aboard the Nerd Express for a scale train ride!

Another shot from inside the roundhouse.

The original concrete counterweight on the traction wheels of the turntable.  The turntable is now hydraulic drive instead of electric drive.  They did a real nice job.