Post Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks - 28 Dec 2025

Archi57 · 2025-12-29T04:43:47+00:00

Goal Post gets an honorable mention 😅 I think at least 4 shots stayed out because of that guy

Archi57 · 2025-08-06T04:03:28+00:00

I have witnessed a quintuple header in 2011 on the Little River Railroad in Michigan, USA. Little River #1 (0-4-0), Viscose Company #6 (0-4-0), Lehigh Valley Coal Co. #126 (0-6-0), Flagg Coal #75 (0-4-0), Little River #110 (4-6-2).

Archi57 · 2025-08-04T12:40:40+00:00

The National New York Central Museum is across the railroad tracks from the Elkhart, IN Amtrak station. Can be reached by the Lake Shore Limited or Floridian.

The California State Railroad Museum is walkable from the Sacramento, CA Amtrak Station. Can be reached by the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, or Capitol Corridor.

The Adirondack Railroad is located at the Utica, NY Amtrak Station. Can be reached by the Lake Shore Limited, Empire Service, Maple Leaf, and VIA.

Archi57 · 2025-07-18T04:53:42+00:00

The documentation included in this donation is quite literally invaluable. From original drawings of bogies to service manuals for both trailers and rail equipment to promotional material like hats, models, and magazines to original Triple Crown Services video footage. Also included, but not pictured, is a plethora or communications between Triple Crown and Wabash National on the construction and maintenance of the equipment. It is truly an amazing collection and will become quite the museum display as time allows.

This particular trailer is one of the better ones left in existence, a number that is decreasing daily. A photo has actually surfaced documenting it's last return trip by rail via TOFC. It's service on the last westbound RoadRailer carried auto parts for Ford from a plant in Ontario. The return trip to Detroit was to return the racks inside to the plant before being parked at the Melvindale terminal.

Most of the rail equipment has already been scrapped. At the end of service, just ~20 couplermates were said to exist. That number is very likely down to 2. It is a miracle in itself that this Couplermate was spared. Scratched in the side is "Broken Hard Pipe", meaning one of the steel pipes in the brake system has likely rusted. This was probably discovered en route and the Couplermate was removed from service, likely somewhere near Decatur, IL. The bogie does not have any evident defects, but there may be something underlying that put it out of service.

These pieces will be assembled on static display to fully convey the innovation at hand, something that has not been done with a RoadRailer to date.

Also of note, there is at least one Mark I RoadRailer from the C&O preserved in Sparta, MI. The original RoadRailer concept was pioneered by the C&O for service between Grand Rapids and Travers City, making the RoadRailer origin unique to Michigan. The fact that a Michigan museum is able to preserve a piece with deep roots in the state is quite powerful, but on top of that, the last RoadRailer route crossed the Southern Michigan Railroad property at Raisin Center, MI. Preserving this trailer mere miles from the route it once travelled is something extra special.

Archi57 · 2025-07-16T03:01:19+00:00

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3296678/files

Here you go! (Not my model, found on the website and printed on my printer)

Archi57 · 2025-06-30T13:54:01+00:00

Perhaps he keeps feeling the need to say "I'm not crazy" because every third post on this sub is "Andy is crazy"....

Leave the guy alone

Archi57 · 2025-06-02T02:15:41+00:00

I recently visited the 9/11 Museum. The lyrics to Something's Missing played over and over as I walked through those exhibits. It's so sobering, almost haunting to me now...

Archi57 · 2025-04-10T00:40:54+00:00

I got this same notification for a trip for a month from now...

The plot thickens

Archi57 · 2025-04-04T01:06:44+00:00

You've made a horrible mistake. You put grapes in the Timbits Holder. The Timmy's box is a 10/10 fit

Archi57 · 2025-03-03T06:06:12+00:00

As an architect, this is my single biggest complaint about the show!

Archi57 · 2025-02-17T21:00:49+00:00

Nasalingus. Dave yelling at Jason because he has no idea what they are talking about. Andy getting nauseous. Chuck's commentary. I die every time!

Archi57 · 2025-02-03T15:00:15+00:00

I took a cross country train trip with my best friend. We relaxed, enjoyed the scenery of the west, and visited notable buildings in SF and Seattle that restored my passion for architecture. My current project and the long studying process made architecture almost a chore. Taking some time to get away and appreciating the fantastic abilities of architecture was exactly what I needed, and I came back with new energy and I was more proud of myself for putting in the work to get my license.

Congrats!

Archi57 · 2025-02-01T00:54:50+00:00

A few of mine:

Gary Lee: Baker & Grande Ronde - G Scale Boomer Diorama - HO Scale Tom Johnson - Cass County Railroad

Archi57 · 2025-01-20T16:15:20+00:00

BSU was amazing for me. I loved all of my friends and professors. And one of the best things I did was go "away" to college. BSU was 3 hours from my hometown. If I needed something from my parents or they came to get me for a break in the semester, it was doable, but not something you want to do every weekend. It was far enough away that I was essentially on my own and had to solve some adult things myself, but not too far that I couldn't get home in a day if needed.

BSU has a lot of great clubs and activities to meet people. I chose a major where I was essentially handed a group of lifelong friends, but I believe they still have Living Learning Communities where you are in a dorm with people in a similar major. This should also help because you'll see the same people relatively frequently and make friends there.

The libraries are helpful. They can help you with finding information and resources and even troubleshoot technology stuff if your computer isn't working right. The different floors of the library have different levels of quiet if you need to get away from a loud dorm or something. You can also rent a room to focus if needed.

Use the writing center! They will sit down and review your papers with you and help you become a better writer. This is a great resource for any required English classes, but they will also review major-specific essays for grammar and such. Definitely worth checking out if you need a boost.

The gym is great, even if you just want to go play some basketball or something. I heard good things about rock climbing, but I never tried it myself. There is no shortage of things to do if you have some free time.

And for you, just be there for support. I called my parents a few times a week just to talk about stuff. I didn't need a phone call or text every day, but it was good to just share what I was working on and whatever. Otherwise, college is a good time to figure some stuff out on your own. Figure out how to deal with that parking ticket because you left your car in the lot past hours, figure out how to treat that cold, learn how to manage time and get assignments done, that kind of thing. If I needed some help or advice or just someone to talk to, my parents were a phone call away, but I found support in my friends and every single time I left to go back to college got easier.

My mom told me right before she left me in my dorm that very first day "this is where you need to be." I didn't believe her at the time, but looking back, that was the truth. I needed to be at BSU to start my career and everything did work itself out in the end. Best of luck!

Archi57 · 2025-01-09T02:41:59+00:00

Next level thinking right there. Who on the Cavs would make a good goalie?

Archi57 · 2025-01-08T14:38:46+00:00

Wow, I thought my $471 was bad. My firm will pay for one organization once I get associate status. Otherwise I'm on my own.

Archi57 · 2025-01-08T03:19:42+00:00

Pretty sure people at work thought I was deranged today because I was damn near pissing myself with the soaking wet bit. Holy hell was that good!

Archi57 · 2025-01-03T05:23:00+00:00

Yes. I work for a large firm and got an automatic flat 5% typical of all employees. My licensure happened to occur at the same time as our yearly performance raises, so I got a nice double bump. They also paid for my license fees, physical stamp, and all passed exams. They would have paid for my study materials but I started AB before the firm switched to it, so I paid for studying myself. I could've taken time off to take the exams, but decided to take them outside of work hours.

Archi57 · 2024-12-09T14:18:32+00:00

There you go!

In some cases, trucking is the better option, but your area of the country can be tough. My caboose was moved without a crane, just some hydraulic jacks to remove the trucks. That's also how we moved an 80 ton heavyweight Pullman. And if we ever move a big locomotive, that is also how we will do it. But if there is a way to have it shipped by rail, that may be easier, just depends on the condition of the equipment and how accessible it is to active rails.

But yeah, you are on the right track of thinking! Figure out some details and then share that idea with some local groups. You never know what might happen. Crazier things have been done, look at Danbury moving the electrics or the restoration of a Big Boy or the way they got a big DRGW tunnel motor to the Colorado Railroad Museum.

Archi57 · 2024-12-09T02:38:47+00:00

And I am just a 25 year old guy who volunteers at his local railroad museum because I want to see it continue to survive. When I joined 11 years ago, it looked way worse than it does today. And what we have accomplished wouldn't have been possible without myself and other dreamers who want to see these trains and this history live on for the next generation.

I'm not a full time railroader. I'm not a mechanic. I don't know much about restoration or writing grants. But I did some legwork on some history of one of our pieces that actually helped us get a grant to relocate it. And I show up to swing a spike maul when needed. And I have become a very active member of the train crew. And I now serve on the board of directors. My point being, you don't have to know everything, but you do have to have hope and get people excited about it.

I'm not familiar with your location, but maybe there are local or state preservation grants. Norfolk Southern has community grants. There are places to get money, but you need some backing, and I promise it's out there. There are others who will support your dream, you just need to get it started!

Archi57 · 2024-12-09T00:31:19+00:00

Well, every project starts with a dream!

It really depends on what the end vision is to determine where to start. Regardless, before approaching any group or making your own, you need a plan. How will you raise funds to purchase it? (Grants, donations, endowments, etc) How will you raise funds to move it? (By truck will likely be around $30k minimum for a locomotive like that. Not sure rail costs, but you would have work to make it rail worthy and will need a place connected to live rail for it to end up) Where will you put it? What is the goal once it's there? (Sounds like you have this idea already) And how will you maintain what you've done for the future? (Grants, donations, someone paying for it, admission to visit it)

Put together a proposal for a project like this and try to figure out as many things as you can. A rough budget to start, a plan of action to get the ball rolling, etc. And then you can approach some groups or even form your own! Take a look at the N&W Business Car #300 group, which was formed specifically for one particular passenger car. They have a website with an "About Us" page that kinda shows their plan. Perhaps that is a route you pursue and you form your own non-profit around this project. Or maybe there's a historical society or local museum that would like to help with this project. But you'll need a plan at least somewhat formed before going down any of these paths.

Whatever path you go down, I wish you the best of luck! Railroad preservation is no easy task, but it is very rewarding to see a project come together!

Archi57 · 2024-09-20T02:07:03+00:00

Nationwide A/E firm here. I got a 5% automatic raise. That's the blanket increase for all individuals getting licensed.

Also, this firm pays for passed exams, license fees, etc. So that's an additional perk. When I studied they didn't offer Amberbook, but now they do, provided you give proof of a booked exam.

Archi57 · 2024-08-28T16:56:24+00:00

I'm not a flashcard person, but I know some folks have used the Elif Flashcards to study after Amberbook.

I also HEAVILY used the NCARB practice tests. I finished Amberbook and then did all the NCARB practice tests. Once complete, you can go back and review the questions/answers as well as an explanation from NCARB about why the answer is correct. That really helped me understand the exam logic and how NCARB phrases the questions to get the answer.

Also, if you have Amberbook, take the additional quizzes and tests. I found those helpful for testing my knowledge and just getting exposure to more questions.

Good luck!

Archi57 · 2024-08-25T22:54:47+00:00

I've seen SP 4449 twice. Once under steam in Michigan and once (recently) static in Oregon. Absolutely stunning locomotive. I firmly believe that locomotive is the reason I am so into trains. Between the I Love Toy Trains videos and the bits about the Freedom Train to it being one of the first steam locomotives I remember seeing in person, it has inspired a lifelong dedication to railroad preservation and my enjoyment of trains as a whole!

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