[complexmind]

Howdy All:

As in past years I will be posting daily pictures of the event up to the Internet.  Hopefully you will start seeing them on Monday.  

This year I will be going a little different route so that I can spend more time out at the happenings and less time formatting and uploading images.  I will be posting them to a Google account.  So I can use Google's bandwidth and storage instead of my own.  Then after the event I will post them up to my personal web site (http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info) for archive purposes.  Though I am sure the ones I post to Google will be up there for many years.

To get to the new pictures you can follow this link:  http://picasaweb.google.com/diamondheadsteamup

Just to get the ball rolling and test it out, I have posted pictures from the last two years to this link.  Images are uploaded into Albums and I create a new Album each days pictures.  Then Google sorts those Albums into date order.  When you click on a album you get thumbnail versions of all the pictures that you can enlarge or there is a slide show button at the top to go through them one by one.  Hope this makes it easier for the viewers, I know it will make it easier for me.

Take care and I hope to see many of you there.

 

[complexmind]

Howdy All:
Diamondhead is pretty much the same.  Some new carpet, a little less clutter, but not much and the same old friends! 
This year I am going to try and get a web cam working for the day time.  We will see how it goes.  It will take one picture every 60 seconds and post it to my web site.  The last 30 minutes of pictures will be kept.  You can find the pictures here:  http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/Projects/webcam_gallery.htm  As you can see from the first few shots, there is nothing but carpet.  The track should be arriving shortly.

As I mentioned before, the pictures I take with a camera will be posted to a Google account and can be found here:  http://picasaweb.google.com/diamondheadsteamup
One last thing from the soap box.  Anyone that has put together an event before can tell you how much work it takes.  Anyone that has been to Diamondhead knows what the hotel is like.  That being said, those people that have nothing better to do than to complain to Jerry about the conditions of the hotel need to keep their opinions to themselves!  Too much clutter, areas in disarray, room not right, go tell the front desk.  Jerry doesn’t need anyone’s crap!  Jerry was only here 5 minutes before someone started about a roll of carpet near the bar in the atrium.  Good grief!!!!
Ok, I’m done.
Watch for pictures in both locations and I hope to see many of you shortly.
 

 

[complexmind]

FYI, First batch of Camera pictures posted:

http://picasaweb.google.com/diamondheadsteamup

 

[complexmind]

Mike, believe it or not they reupholstered those bar stools/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/cry.gif and put them in the bar.  So a couple of guys went in there and brought them out.  They are not great but a lot better than the dirty, sticky looking things they used to be.  Tomorrow I will get a picture.  Anyone who has been here probably knows what we are talking about.

 

[complexmind]

Good Times!  The turnout seems a little high for this early in the week but there is still lots of time to run.  The swap tables just opened up and a couple of grand has already changed hands.  I do look forward to the swap tables!  Maybe I will move the webcam over there for a few minutes./DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif

It is raining pretty good down here and they are calling for high winds.  Safe travels to all those on there way.
 

 

[complexmind]

Charles, I will have to look and see where I can set it.  The problem is that I have to have a power outlet to plug it into.  Finding an outlet that works is like finding a clean room around here!  So far I have only found two outlets on the outside wall.  I will check around.
Glad to here that someone is watching and enjoying.
Take care,

 

[complexmind]

Well, the Diamondhead swap tables have consumed another wallet!!
Luckily Bruce had a keen eye on the tables and before I knew it I was staring at a brand new Roundhouse Darjeeling, in blue./DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/sick.gif  It had my name on it so I couldn’t resist.  

http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/images/webposts/2008/PICT2259.JPG

Turned out to be for sale by Stan Richmond who was also selling sets of brass rolling stock for this engine.  Guess who had to have a set of those as well?  Ouch.  PB&J Sandwiches for the next 4 months!!

http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/images/webposts/2008/P1170014.JPG


Makes one good looking consist!!
Anyway, it was a great day and I got two runs of the new engine, even with all the people now at the event.
Also got to meet Dwight this evening.  Great people in this hobby.
Keep watching the two web sites for more pictures.
Live webcam:  http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/Projects/webcam_gallery.htm
Daily picture uploads:  http://picasaweb.google.com/diamondheadsteamup
Almost forgot.  Just before hitting the sack I saw Cliff from Accucraft followed quickly by a K36 steamin by!

http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/images/webposts/2008/Pict2300.JPG

http://www.johnsgardenrailway.info/images/webposts/2008/Pict2302.JPG

Check out Thursdays photo album for more images.  I will try and get some in the daylight tomorrow as well.

Images exceed 640 pixel max. width - converted to links. Mod.

 

[complexmind]

Well, it has finally come to an end.  Six great days of steamin’!  The webcam is packed away, the last of the pictures has been uploaded and I have 19 hours of driving to do starting at 5am./DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/shocked.gif
I hope everyone who was interested enjoyed the photo coverage and also enjoyed the webcam.
I tried to get live video running from the webcam but the hotel had their wireless system locked down this year and I could not get past their firewall.  (Last year I had full control...) There is more than one way to skin a cat and I might try and setup my own network next year so I can bypass the hotel and get that live video feed working.  In 12 months we will see.
I did take some short video clips here and there.  Hopefully I will find time this coming week to post them.  I will follow up here when I do.  I did see the Accucraft Hudson run and it looked like a winner./DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif

Good times and missed friends.  You may recognize the gentleman on the right from different G1MRA events and videos.  That's John Fuller.  Wait, that's my name!  Makes for some interesting conversations and registration fun.  So for the whole event I was known as John Fuller US and he was John Fuller UK.  The best Diamondhead yet!

Thanks for all the comments and e-mails.  Safe travels to all those attending.