Iron Workers Local 384 in Oak Ridge is helping lead relief efforts in Eastern Tennessee, including accessing some remote areas that the official state and federal authorities haven't quite reached yet. Despite what you're seeing on TV and hearing from some politicians, the relief efforts in these remote communities continue to be led by individuals, not the government.

My brother in law is one of those working with this, and what he's described is beyond devastation.
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This month's SOTS comes to you from MP247 on the NS "Rathole", otherwise known as the Town Formerly Known as Nemo. While we've been coming down here for the last few months doing site prep, the last two weeks was particularly noteable, as we moved our RV onto the site, managed to get internet and water hookups, and almost daily deliveries from Amazon. The first week was all work -- burning brush, bringing down a few trees, burying a septic tank and clearing a path for the BobCat to make it t...

As Casey Kasem used to say.... the hits just keep on coming....

And if you're old enough to know who that is, you're going to love the two sets that TrainSimulations.net just released.

First up.... SD45's in Conrail heritage liveries, which our departed friend Dave Edwards would have loved.

This set includes as-delivered Erie-Lackawana and Penn Central units, plus Conrail. These were seen anywhere Conrail operated, and will be at home on just about any route...

I had to do a double-take when I looked at the date today... Yes, September is just around the corner. With that, my youngest started what's hopefully his last semester at the University of North Texas this week, and my granddaughter went back last week to start her last year in elementary school. Time flies way too fast in that regard. Heading back to school also means one of my favorite times of year -- NFL football is back. While the pre-season is not supposed to be an indicator of anythin...

Checking Trainsim has been part of my daily routine for the better part of the last 20 years.

It's like checking the news -- I turn on the PC or open a browser on my phone, and it's there.

And I'm glad it is -- there are folks here I've known to varying degrees dating back 20 years, and this hobby is one of the few distractions I get from everyday life, and for that I'm grateful.

Some of you may not realize how close this site came to being like UKTrainsim...